Residents of the high-risk areas along the southern borders might get the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine towards the end of this month. And that is if the government cannot procure the doses for the entire eligible population by then. The foreign minister said this during the question-answer session of the National Assembly today.
Phuentshogling has been under lockdown since April 16. The bordering town reported 277 COVID cases. Of which, 66 are from the community, 25 are frontline workers and 186 are contacts. Samdrup Jongkhar reported 194 cases including 13 cases from the community.
Considering the situation in Phuentshogling, the Member of Parliament from Nanong_Shumar constituency in Pema Gatshel, Lungten Namgyel, proposed and asked the government to vaccinate the town’s residents with the surplus vaccine. The member said the move will benefit the residents immensely as the southern bordering town continues to see cases from the community.
Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji said the surplus vaccine will not be enough to vaccinate close to 73,000 people residing in the bordering areas. There are only 61,000 doses of surplus vaccine.
“What we stand by is to begin the second dose together for all the eligible population because this is effective. If we can procure the required vaccine for the second dose by the end of this month, we will vaccinate the entire eligible population. If not, the National COVID-19 Task Force plans to vaccinate the residents of the high-risk areas. Once the Prime Minister is back, the National COVID-19 Task Force will discuss and decide. It will depend on when we can procure the vaccine,” Lyonpo said.
The Prime Minister during one of the sessions of the parliament said that the government is in talks with other countries to procure the vaccine for the second dose within the stipulated time frame of eight to twelve weeks after the first dose. Today marks 11 weeks after the country administered the first dose on 27th March.
Sonam Tenzin & Phub Gyem
