DILI, 25 September 2025 — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has confirmed that the rotavirus vaccine will arrive in Timor-Leste on October 9.
UNICEF Representative Patrizia DiGiovanni said the vaccine would be available within weeks, saying the doses were procured from India.
“There are several types of rotavirus vaccines, and some are more sensitive than others, requiring specific care in transport and storage. For a time, we were waiting for the Government’s decision on which formula would be approved for use in Timor-Leste,” she said.
Another challenge UNICEF faced was the global shortage of supply due to high demand in many countries.
“Thanks to my team, we managed to locate and purchase the vaccine. It was a continuous effort to overcome all logistical problems. One vaccine, for example, can only be transported at very high temperatures. As Timor-Leste is an island, air transport would have been extremely costly. We therefore chose another vaccine, equally effective but with more feasible logistical requirements,” DiGiovanni explained.
She did not disclose the exact number of doses but assured that the supply would be sufficient to cover the country’s annual needs, based on projections from the Ministry of Health.
The rotavirus vaccine is recommended for infants and children to prevent gastrointestinal infections caused by the virus, particularly gastroenteritis, which can lead to severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration.
The National Institute of Pharmacy and Medical Products had allocated US$107,000 to UNICEF for the purchase. Part of the funds was also used to procure tetanus and diphtheria vaccines.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
