DILI, 5 december 2021 (TATOLI) – The government of Timor-Leste, through the Council of Ministers, called on the eligible groups to have a Covid-19 Pfizer booster shot amid the ‘Omicron’ variant concern.
Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães said it is important to receive the booster shot to increase the immune system against the threats of the mutation of the coronavirus, particularly the Omicron variant.
“The eligible groups need to visit the nearest vaccination centers to get their booster shot,” Magalhães made the comments after all the government members receive their booster jab at the Palace of the Government, in Dili, on wednesday.
The former President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Laureate, José Ramos Horta also received his booster shot, at his residence in Dili, on Tuesday (4/1).
Magalhães said the Omicron Covid-19 variant poses a very high risk compared to the previous variant such as Delta, etc.
“In Timor-Leste, we have Pfizer vaccine available for us to take as boosters to strengthen our immune system against the Covid-19, especially the new variant Omicron. Thus, I called on the elders, the front line workers, and people with underline conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, TB, and cancer to have their booster shot,” Magalhães stressed.
He said the booster would help Timor-Leste to maintain the current normal life, which is important to accelerate national development.
Previously, Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo also said that the Covid-19 vaccine third dose would be given to elders over 60 as well as people with underlying conditions.
She said the booster jabs would be administered first for 6000 people who have received their second dose of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccine.
“These 6000 people including those who are over 60, people with underlying conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, TB, diabetes, and the front-line workers,” Belo said.
Since Timor-Leste’s outbreak began in April 2020, the country has recorded 19.839 cases, 19.709 recoveries, and 122 fatalities.
In Timor-Leste, of the 754.864 adult groups, 83.4 percent had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, of which 68.2 percent have been fully vaccinated.
At least four municipalities have now fully vaccinated more than 70 percent of their adult residents. Four of these municipalities included Dili (80.4%), Viqueque (81.6%), Covalima (76.5%) and RAEAO (71.8%). However, the vaccination rate is low in Ermera and Bobonaro with 49.9% and 51.1% respectively.
So far, Timor-Leste had received a total of 1.213.279 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, consisting of 1.012.850 doses of AstraZeneca, 100.000 doses of SINOVAC (China), and 100.620 doses of Pfizer vaccines (USA).
Of the 1.012.650 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines, 100.800 doses were given by COVAX Facility, 24.00 doses from New Zealand, 777.850 does were donated by the government of Australia, 142.000 doses from Portugal, and 168.000 doses were given by the Japanese government.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
