DILI, 04 june 2021 (TATOLI) – The COVID-19 inter-ministerial commission says that 87000 population has received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine since the government and partners launched the first dose of the COvid-19 vaccine campaign on April 7.
The 87.000 people who had received the vaccine represent 35 percent of all the groups that are currently eligible for vaccination in the country.
The spokesperson of the COVID-19 Inter-Ministerial Commission, Danina Coelho said that majority of those people who had received the Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine are in Dili, including the frontline professional health workers, elderly people over 60, and people with underlying medical conditions.
“We encourage the older adults, aged 60 or over to get vaccinated as the government willing to ensure adequate vaccine to all Timorese people who are eligible for the vaccination in the country,” Ms. Coelho said.
According to the recent official data of the Ministry of Health, in Dili, 97 percent of vaccinations have gone to people aged 18-59 with the underlying medical condition, 19 percent to people aged over 60, and 35 percent to people over 18.
In capital Dili, the government had planned to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine to all population aged 18 and over, next week.
Coelho said of all the 87.000 people who received the vaccine, only 28 showed adverse reactions following immunization, saying these cases had been immediately reported to Health Ministry for further investigation.
Previously, the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak had announced that those citizens who received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine could move freely within the national territory, but calling on communities to keep wearing face masks, maintaining social and physical distancing, washing regularly, and thoroughly and staying at home to help the government combat the spread of coronavirus in the communities.
So far, COVAX had supported Timor-Leste with 24. 000 dose of Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine, while Australia supported 10.000, and 24.000 would arrive from New Zealand and China also had assisted the nation with 100.000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine.
There have been a total of 7422 lab-confirmed cases of the virus in Timor-Leste, with 4826 recoveries and 16 deaths according to data of the (CIGC).
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
