DILI, 09 june 2021 (TATOLI)- Timor-Leste received a total of 100.800 doses of COVID -19 Vaccines through the COVAX Facility on Wednesday, making the largest single batch of vaccines send to Vaccine Global Access Facility (Covax facility) and 24.000 doses donated by the Government of New Zealand as part of COVAX – sharing initiative.
Representative of United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Mr, Bilal Durrani said that the latest delivery will enable the Ministry of Health to provide the second dose of COVID -19 vaccines to 28.952 health and frontline workers, and first doses to those above 60 and people with comorbidities across Timor-Leste.
“The 24.000 doses were delivered on 5 April and 100.800 doses delivered today are part of the over 500.000 COVID -19 vaccine doses allocated by the COVAX Facility for 20% of Timor-Leste’s population identified as the priority group,” Durrani said in a statement.
The Ambassador of the United States(US) to Timor-Leste, Charles Kevin Blackstone informed that the United States has provided an initial $2 billion -out of a total planned $ 4 billion- to the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment, which supports vaccine distribution to over 90 countries including Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Blackstone was pleased to join the launch of the government of Timor-Leste’s COVID -19 vaccination on April 7.
“COVID -19 is a global problem that requires a global solution. I am proud that the United States is the leading contributor to the global COVID -19 response and that the international community is coming together to combat COVID -19,” said Ambassador Blackstone.
At the same time, The Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo on behalf of the government extended her deepest appreciation and Congratulated the COVID -19 assistance from COVAX Facility, UNICEF, WHO, European Union, United States Embassy, New Zealand Embassy, Australia Embassy and the others which already contributed to Combat COVID -19 in Timor-Leste.
She said 100. 800 doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine Will be launched on Thursday and Will be implemented to those people who have already received the first dose on April, 7 and they will receive the second doses.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafy Belo
