DILI, 19 february, 2021 (TATOLI) – Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste (TL), Peter Roberts, revealed that the Australian Executive has pledged to support Timor-Leste in financing 80% of the vaccine acquisition against Covid-19.
Robert said, Australia committed to finance the 80% equal to US $ 18.6 million for the vaccine procurement.
“Australia provides 24 million of Australian dollars [the equivalent of 18.6 million US dollars]. The amount provided have been used at the beginning of the year to assist the Government’s activities regarding process of distribution, monitoring and dissemination of information of the Covax vaccine. We will work together with Timor-Leste to acquire the vaccine”, Ambassador Robert said at the meeting with the development partners, in Aitarak-Laran, Dili.
Peter Roberts recalled that Timor-Leste is currently cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to have access to the Covax Facility vaccine.
Otherwise, Robert said, Australia intends to make the available five million of Australian dollars within july this year which is equivalent to the US$ 3.8 million, with a view to strengthening the process of distribution and monitoring of the vaccine to be administered in Timor-Leste.
Regarding the 20% related to the acquisition of the vaccine from AstraZeneca, they will be financed by Covax Facility at a cost of seven million US dollars.
Of the 20% of the vaccine, equivalent to about 263 thousand doses, 100 thousand should arrive at the end of february and more than 160 thousand doses will arrive between april and may.
It is recalled that the WHO recommended to the Government of Timor-Leste to use the AstraZeneca vaccine because it has more advantages with the other two Pfizer and Moderna.
The vaccine will be administered in stages to priority groups until the eligible population is fully vaccinated. Therefore, it is expected to be implemented to 8% of the population in the first phase, the 3% corresponding to frontline professionals and 5% covering the population residing in the border areas and people a certain disease.
Journalist: Maria Auxiliadora
Editor: Zezito da Sivla
