500,000 More Doses Of AstraZeneca Vaccine To Arrive Today

Source: Vientiane Times

Some 500,000 more doses of Astra Zeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, provided by the COVAX Facility, will arrive at Wattay International Airport today.

The donation to Laos is part of the COVAX Facility’s contribution to ongoing global efforts to end the pandemic, and support for Laos’ goal to vaccinate 50 percent of its population by the end of this year.

Vaccines are the most important tool in the fight against the virus.  As the outbreak in Laos spreads, the government is sourcing assistance from various sectors and friendly countries to supplement its own resources.

Health authorities are expediting the vaccination programme as Laos strives to bring the Covid-19 outbreak under control.

As of October 28, a total of 3,286,024 people, equal to 44.78 percent of the population, had received the first dose of a vaccine, while 2,815,948 people have received two doses, equal to 38.38 percent of the population.

The first shipment of COVAX-supported vaccines consisting of 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine was delivered to Laos in March this year.

COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and CEPI, working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, civil society organisations, and others.

Several countries are supporting the provision of vaccine through the COVAX Facility.

Gavi board members represented in Laos include Australia, Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America