After almost seven months of preparation, the government is finally ready to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine once the vaccines arrive in the country. So far, more than 400,000 registered for the vaccine. The health ministry has identified around 533,000 eligible people who will receive the vaccine.
“As soon as vaccination arrives in the country, we will immediately roll out the vaccine. At every chiwog level, at the minimum, there will be a vaccination station in every chiwog and at each chiwog, a micro plan has been developed whereby within the chiwog which villages will come on which days, morning, afternoon or evening,” said Dr Tandi Dorji, the Foreign Minister.
Microplanning is one of the tools that health workers use to ensure that vaccination services reach every community.
The vaccination programme will be completed within a week. While most of the population will receive the Covishield vaccine, those aged 16 and 17 years will have to wait for the Pfizer vaccine. Bhutan will soon have 5,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The Foreign Minister also said the registration for vaccination is compulsory, but it’s not mandatory to take the vaccine. However, those who choose not to take the jab might face some kind of consequences in the future.
“It’s absolutely all right not to be vaccinated however, in the future there will be some travel restrictions. People who want to travel will require a vaccination certificate. Unvaccinated people may not be allowed to attend training, since there is a gathering of many people. Similarly in a certain line of work, proof of vaccination will be required; for example, if tourism begins and you want to be a guide, you have to be vaccinated,” Lyonpo said.
To make sure that the people do not miss the dose, there might be an inter-district restriction. However, Lyonpo said there won’t be a lockdown this time.
“There is not going to be a lockdown during the vaccination. But some form of travel restriction will be there. At the most between districts so that we ensure nobody misses the vaccination. After vaccination, they will be marked as we have during the elections. If you show that, you will be allowed to travel even within the vaccination period,” Lyonpo added.
As of now, Bhutan received 150,000 doses of Covishield from India, and additional 400,000 doses of Covishield vaccine is also expected to arrive in the country this month.
Kelzang Choden
