DILI, 17 October 2021 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste received the first batch of the 100.620 doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines, made available by the United States through the COVAX Facility.
The 100.629 doses arrived at the International Airport of Nicolau Lobato at 5.30 pm local time. The vaccines were shipped via Asia Cargo Airlines.
The doses will enable children aged 12-17 to begin vaccinations.
Pfizer vaccine will be used in Timor-Leste for the first time to provide the first opportunity for thousands of children between the ages of 12 and 17 to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines delivered today were provided at no cost to the Timorese people and are the same shots used in the United States.
The Us Charge d.affairs, Tom Daley said that the United States stands with Timor-Leste as an enduring friend and partner to work together in combating the Covid-19 pandemic: “Today’s shipment shows our support to the Government’s efforts to save lives in Timor-Leste – particularly for children 12 and older. We are proud to make these vaccines available because it is the right thing to do to end this pandemic and jumpstart economic recovery.”
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has been working side-by-side with the Government of Timor-Leste to provide over $5.9 million in critical assistance to fight COVID-19,” said Daley
“The United States is taking a comprehensive approach to ending the pandemic worldwide, mitigating COVID-19’s harm to people and societies, and strengthening global recovery. The United States is delivering on its promise of serving as an arsenal of vaccines for the world. We are proud to be the largest single-country contributor to COVAX.
He said the US contribution of US$4 billion, along with other U.S. government funds, is being used towards the purchase of the initial 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine distributed by COVAX to low and lower-middle-income economies around the world as defined by Gavi’s Advance Market Commitment and the African Union.
On September 22, President Biden committed to supplying an additional 500 million Pfizer vaccine doses, making available more than 1.1 billion doses, including the doses delivered today. The United States will continue to work with COVAX and other partners to ensure these vaccines are delivered in a way that is equitable and follows the science and public health data.
At the same place, on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, the Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports (MEJD) Armindo Maia thanked the US government for donating the Pfizer vaccines to vaccine more than 50 thousand kids aged 12 to 17 in Timor-Leste.
Maia also thanked COVAX Facility, UNICEF, and WHO for the good cooperation to facilitate the vaccines to Timor-Leste.
“Regarding the official launch of vaccines is depended on the schedule that had been defined by the Ministry of Health (MoH). Possibly, the first launch of the vaccine will be on the first week of November and MEJD is ready to cooperate with MoH to launch the Pfizer vaccination campaign in Timor-Leste,” said Maia.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Fernandes
