DILI, April 29, 2021 (TATOLI) -Timor-Leste began a COVID-19 inoculation drive on April 7. As of Thursday (28/04/021), more than 27. 650 out of the country’s 1,338,954 population had been vaccinated against the virus, following the report from the Ministry of Health at the Parliament National Yesterday.
The Director-General of Health Services, Odete Viegas, said, that the administration of 13,190 doses in the Municipality of Dili having been completed yesterday.
According to Ms. Viegas, they had scheduled it for two weeks, but the vaccination lasted up to three weeks.
“We recognize the lack of awareness and the fact that some members of the frontline teams have refused to receive the vaccine, the main reason is fear. People prefer to wait and observe the reaction of those already vaccinated. Afterward, they will feel safer receiving the vaccine,” Ms. Viega said.
Likewise, she said, many people not included in the priority groups wanted to be vaccinated.
The director-general also added that vaccine administration in all municipalities reached more than 100%, meaning that people over 60, Those who are sick, and people within a group that were not on the Ministry of Health’s list – such as workers in restaurants, stores, and banks – were also vaccinated, in addition to the front line team.
“We exceeded the expected percentage of vaccination,” she said.
Odete Viegas also explained that the first batch of vaccines, foreseen for a total of 24 thousand doses, exceeded the number concerning because a bottle of AstraZeneca served 12 people.
She added that, after the arrival of the first 24 thousand doses, 70 thousand more will arrive between May and June.
It is recalled that vaccines against covid-19 for frontline teams were distributed on April 8 and 9 across the municipality including Oé-Cusse Raeoa.
The Municipality of Ainaro received 690 doses, Baucau 1,730, Bobonaro 1,080, Covalima 920, Lautém 740, Liquiçá 620, Aileu 590, 900 doses were delivered in Ermera, 680 in Manufahi, 590 in Manatuto, 910 in Viqueque and the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse and Ambeno (RAEOA) had 1,360 doses. The total number of vaccines was 24 thousand doses, distributed by all municipalities.
AstraZeneca’s first batch of vaccines arrived on April 5 in Timor-Leste via the My Indo Airlines flight chartered by UNICEF.
The COVAX facility financed the 20% related to the purchase of the AstraZeneca vaccine for 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.
Journalist: Nelia Fernandes
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
