DILI, april 7 2021 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste began the first vaccination campaign against covid-19 at the Centro de Saúde Formosa, Dili.
The Prime Minister (PM), Taur Matan Ruak, the Minister of Health, Odete Belo, the President of the National Parliament, Aniceto Guterres, the Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Arvind Mathur, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations United Nations (UN), Roy Trivedy, the United Nations Children’s Fund Representative (UNICEF), Bilal Durrani, members of the Government and other participants received the first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The first phase of the vaccine will be received by the priority groups, namely health professionals, the front-line team, the population over 60 and those suffering from coronary heart disease, as well as those who are at risk of contagion. However, the population over 18 will receive the vaccine in the second phase after the first group are done.
Following the statement said by The Republic President, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, the launch of the vaccination campaign constitutes an effective instrument to reduce the impact of the new coronavirus in the community and help the country to return to normal.
“I ask all the eligible to get the vaccine to do so in order to protect themselves, as well as their family and community,” the statement said.
The Minister of Health also said vaccine is utensil to control and eliminate the covid-19 pandemic.
“I appeal to the entire population to comply with preventive measures, including those who have already received the vaccine. Continue to use the masks, wash your hands, keep your distance, do not illegally cross borders and spread the rumors”, She said.
The Resident Coordinator of the UN, Roy Trivedy, said that the outbreak of the new coronavirus harms the health system and has a negative impact on everyone’s life.
“We have already received the vaccine in Timor-Leste due to the efforts of the Government, UN agencies and all partners. We now guarantee its proper distribution”, he said.
It is recalled that the first batch of vaccines from AstraZeneca, in a total of 24 thousand doses, arrived, on April 5th, in Timor-Leste with My Indo Airlines flight chartered by UNICEF.
The COVAX mechanism financed the 20% related to the purchase of the AstraZeneca vaccine at a cost of seven million US dollars. This percentage is equivalent to about 263 thousand doses. The country has already received the first batch of vaccines and the rest will arrive in stages.
TATOLI
