The second nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign will begin tomorrow. As per the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group’s recommendation, the government will go ahead with the mix and match approach meaning some will get Moderna as the second dose after taking AstraZeneca as the first dose. However, AstraZeneca will also be available for those wishing to take the vaccine.
“Our recommendation is heterologous, given the science behind, immune response and a lot of developed countries’ experiences. We will still adopt the overall strategy in a campaign mode. Meaning the whole of the nationwide immunization will take place for a dedicated time frame, which would be from the 20th to the 26th of July. All the vaccination sites are as decided in the first roll out except for Thimphu where few sites have been consolidated which will be shared on social media and BBS news,” said Health Minister Dechen Wangmo.
The week-long vaccine rollout programme will begin in more than 1,200 vaccination sites across the country. The health minister said vaccine choices will also be given for those who are taking the first dose.
“People who are taking their first dose, we are offering a choice of Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm. Sinopharm will be available in the hospitals in all 20 districts. AstraZeneca and Moderna will be available in all the 1,200 plus vaccination posts.”
Individuals who took a double dose, by mistake, during the first nationwide vaccination campaign will have to take the second dose. Even pregnant women are also encouraged to take the jab tomorrow. Unless it’s an emergency, people are advised to inoculate in their respective zones so that health officials can trace easily in case there are cases from the community.
As the Moderna vaccine is being used for the first time in the country, a rollout of the test dose was also done last Saturday with the Prime Minister leading more than 600 volunteers.
“I am happy to inform only two adverse reactions have been reported so far with very mild symptoms. The age range from 18 to 88 years and with almost 10% of the people with some level of co-morbidities, including a kidney transplant patient doing well as of now,” said the health minister.
A separate home-based vaccination programme will be carried out after a week for people who are physically and mentally challenged.
Currently, Bhutan has secured more than 900,000 doses of COVID vaccines including 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca, 500,000 of Moderna, 5850 doses of Pfizer and, and 50,000 doses of Sinopharm. The country also has 62,000 doses of AstraZeneca remaining from the first nationwide vaccine rollout.
Kelzang Choden
Edited by Phub Gyem
