DILI, 13 september 2021 (TATOLI)—Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo said the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine through the Covax Facility will arrive in Timor Leste by the end of september or early october.
“The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will possibly arrive in TL by the end of september or it could be at the beginning of october,” Minister Odete told reporters at the Ministry of Health in Dili, today.
She said the Pfizer vaccine is supported by USAID through the COVAX Facility, to be given particularly to the eligible children aged 12 to 17.
“USAID had supported Timor-Leste in many ways. Apart from supporting the Ministry of Health, it also cooperated with the community leaders to get citizens vaccinated,” she added.
Pfizer vaccine has gone through multiple rounds of clinical trials, saying it has been approved by the WHO to be administered by the COVAX Facility.
“The Covax Facility is ready to help us with the Pfizer vaccine. We also have prepared to buy the Pfizer vaccine as well as the vaccine storage,” said the Minister.
She added the Pfizer vaccine will be administered in every school across the country, saying the majority of the children aged 12 to 17 are school children: “School teachers will have to cooperate with the health workers to carry out the vaccination.
On the other hand, Timor-Leste’s Medical and Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (SAMES), Santana Martins, said that SAMES had prepared the reserved generators to ensure there would be no power failure and disruption to keep the vaccines safe.
“We are waiting for the vaccine storage from COVAX Facility. So, when everything is ready then we will inform the Minister of Health to transport the vaccine to Timor-Leste,” Martins said.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
