DILI, 09 february 2021 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) will present a fund proposal for the acquisition of AstraZeneca vaccines to the government tomorrow.
The General Coordinator of the Covid-19, Odete Viegas, said the Government will finance 80% of the total vaccines, equivalent to more than US $ 12 million.
“The remaining 20% will be in charge of the Covax Facility, an initiative that led by the World Health Organization, although we must allocate US $ 1.2 million for operating costs,” Ms Viegas said at Palácio das Cinzas, Dili.
Ms Viegas also explained that, the 20% is equivalent to a cost of 7 million US dollars, the 80%, represents an expense greater than 12 million dollars.
“The total is 21 million US dollars. Tomorrow we will present the latest proposal to the Council of Ministers (CM) regarding the 80%. We therefore await the decision from the Council of Ministers”, She said.
The general coordinator also pointed out that the mechanism to be adopted to guarantee the transport of vaccines financed by Covax could be done through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, in English) or through the Autonomous Service for Medicines and Health Equipment (SAMES).
The official also said that the purchase of the AstraZeneca vaccine is not foreseen in the 2021 budget, so the Government should use the Covid-19 Fund, which currently has around US $ 7 million.
Odete Viegas added that 100 thousand doses of the vaccine should arrive at the end of february.
“We need 20% of the vaccine, equivalent to 263 thousand doses. More than 160 thousand doses will arrive between April and May”, She concluded.
Journalist: Nelia Fernandes
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
