Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering received the COVID-19 vaccination at his quarantine centre, following the first auspicious inoculation at Lungtenzampa. On his second day of the quarantine, special arrangements were made to ensure that the protocols were strictly adhered to while the vaccine is administered. Lyonchhen returned to the country from Bangladesh on Thursday and is undergoing 21-day mandatory facility quarantine.
Right after the jab, the Prime Minister urged all eligible Bhutanese to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Lyonchnen said it is normal to experience a slight headache or fever following the vaccination.
“Amongst vaccines, the COVI D -19 vaccine was thoroughly researched and it is safe for Bhutanese people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. I think It is normal to experience symptoms like slight headache and fever. We shouldn’t panic. For some, they might experience a reaction within 15 to 20 minutes. So I think it is normal to experience such symptoms,” Lyonchhen said.
Over 50 family members of the prime minister, including spouse Dr Ugyen Dema who is a breastfeeding mother of a one-year-old, received the vaccine at the Lungtenzampa vaccination centre. The prime minister’s parents are both 80 years old and on hypertension medication. The oldest of the family members is the 87-year-old grandmother of Dr Ugyen Dema. Other members with diabetes also received the vaccine. This according to the Prime Minister’s Facebook Page, is to help people believe that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and far outweighs the risk of COVID-19.
Lyonchhen said the situation would be much better after the second dose of the COVID vaccine which will be rolled out after eight-12 weeks from the first dose.
“When you receive the second dose of the vaccination, two weeks after the second dose the situation will improve in the country. The vaccine will keep us safe as well as keep our community safe, it will help to stop spreading the virus to others. The second dose will be given between 8 to 12 weeks. The longer the duration between the two doses, the better the immune system according to researchers,” added Lyonchhen.
According to the Facebook page of the Prime Minister’s Office, the unique strategy to carryout nationwide vaccination within a specified time frame emanated from His Majesty’s guidance and wisdom. It is the fastest and surest way to achieve herd immunity against the disease.
Choni Dema /Kelzang Choden
