Bhutan will receive about 50,000 doses of COVID vaccines soon through the COVAX facility. While Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is one of the vaccines that Bhutan would be receiving in the first quarter of this year, it will be distributed only after the World Health Organisation approves the vaccine for emergency use.
As the World Health Organisation prepares to distribute the first quarter of COVID-19 vaccines, Bhutan will receive nearly 6,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine and more than 40,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, in its first-quarter through the COVAX facility.
COVAX is a facility that guarantees fair and equitable access for every country in the world besides its aim to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the World Health Organisation’s Representative in Bhutan, of the 108,000 indicative doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Bhutan will receive 35-40 per cent of doses in the first quarter. The remaining 60-65 per cent that amounts to over 64000 doses would be received in the second quarter.
“The country has fulfilled all the criteria to receive the vaccines from COVAX facility. Last week, Gavi and the COVAX facility has written to the Royal Government of Bhutan regarding the recommitment of vaccine. COVAX mentioned the commitment to Bhutan,” said Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus, the WHO Representative in Bhutan.
He said besides the commitment from the COVAX facility, it depends on the vaccine availability in the market. He added the vaccines are therefore being distributed in batches.
Through the COVAX facility, Bhutan will receive COVID-19 vaccine for 20 per cent of the country’s total population.
Kinley Dem
