A consignment of 270,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived in the country yesterday. It will be used to vaccinate 5 to 11-year-olds with both doses and boosters for people aged 12 to 17.
The vaccine flew in at the Paro airport yesterday morning. The distribution to various districts started immediately. The Prime Minister said the children will be vaccinated within ten days.
A few of the countries have already started vaccinating children aged five to 11 years old. And Pfizer is the only vaccine that has been approved for children of this age group. That’s why we will be immediately inoculating our children,” said the Prime Minister.
There are more than 83,000 children in the age group of five to 11 years and more than 80,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17. But the health minister said only about 50 per cent of the five to 11-year-olds have registered so far. The ministry is urging people to register their children.
“There are a couple of options to register in the Bhutan Vaccine System. You can either put your CID and if you don’t have you can put your MCH card number. If not then you can put your phone number. And if not there is an option called no CID. So, you can register by using any of the options in the system,” said the Health Minister, Dechen Wangmo.
Though the fourth dose is not yet recommended, Bhutan remains ready in case the global trend changes.
“Going by the research, the hospitalisation rate is lower in those who have received the booster dose. And we have already started inoculating people with the third dose and finished it as well. According to His Majesty, the COVID-19 vaccine shot is like other vaccines where it needs to be given every year. And upon His Majesty’s command, we have ready the plans to roll out the fourth dose of the vaccine,” said the Prime Minister.
The government has also ordered vaccines for two to four-year-olds although approval has not been granted for this age group. Bhutan is also getting enough vaccines for adults.
Foreign Minister said Switzerland has agreed to give vaccines whenever the need arises. He said Bhutan is signing a trilateral agreement with Switzerland and Pfizer.
Sonam Tenzin
