Myanmar launches COVID 19 vaccination programme
Myanmar has started COVID 19 vaccination programme with health workers from hospitals and employees of the Department of Health receiving the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India. The first shot was administered to a health worker at Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other Union Ministers witnessed the vaccination programme at the Nursing Training School in Nay Pyi Taw. Government of Myanmar has announced that health workers, members of parliament and employees working in key departments will get priority in the vaccination programme.
The vaccination programme was also started in the Rakhine state, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady and Bago regions on Wednesday.
The second dose of the vaccine will be administered after 28 days.
According to the official website of the government, on the occasion of the start of the vaccination programme, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi urged people to remain vigilant as Myanmar was still not in a position to provide vaccines to all its citizens.
The nationwide vaccination programme for COVID 19 will start on February 5.
Myanmar has purchased 30 million doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, 2 million doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in the first week of February.
Earlier, India had sent a consignment of 1.5 million doses of Corona vaccine on 22 January as gift to Myanmar.
