DILI april 7, 2021 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste launches first AstraZeneca vaccine as an effort to deal with the covid-19.
The first leaders to receive the vaccine are the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak and his Spouse Isabel Ferreira, the President of National Parliament, Aniceto Guterres, The President of the Court Appeal, the Catholic Bishop, the Noble Prize Peace, Ramos Horta and the Coordinator of Covid-19 Integrated Management Center (CIGC).
The Prime Minsiter, Taur Matan Ruak said, this vaccine is crucial in the fight against covid-19. And this is the starting point for implementing the national vaccine in Timor-Leste and the government will complete the vaccination to the entire population in Timor-Leste by the end of 2021.
“Today, it is a very important day for the Timorese state. As long as there is a covi-19, the population of Timor-Leste is not really free. If we want to end the pandemic completely, we have to get the vaccine,” PM Matan Ruak said after the launching ceremony for the AstraZeneca vaccine in Timor-Leste, in the Formosa Center.l
Mr Matan Ruak also revealed that 20% of AstraZeneca’s total vaccines were offered by the United Nations through the COVAX facility.
“The State has to work hard to acquire the remaining 80%”, he said
Taur Matan Ruak also recalled that he had already made an official request to the prime ministers of Australia and China to support the Timorese state in the acquisition of the remining amount.
“Timor-Leste has allocated US $ 35 million in the amending budget for the AstraZeneca vaccine”, he underlined.
Also the Minister of Health, Odete Maria Belo, said that it is very important to hold the launching ceremony of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Timor-Leste on World Health Day.
“The vaccine is the last preventive action for covid-19 in Timor-Leste and very important for the lives of the Timorese people,” She said.
The official also pointed out that the preparation and the transportation of the AstraZeneca vaccine has costs US $ 1.5 million.
Journalist: Domingos Piedade
Editor: Zezito Silva
