The world is talking about Bhutan, yet again. This time, it is about the country’s success in vaccinating almost the entire population, eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. The weeklong second vaccination campaign last week inoculated more than 90 per cent of its eligible population. UNICEF Bhutan hails it as an extraordinary achievement.
Bhutan’s vaccination campaign made headlines in international media. From CNN to The Guardian to UNICEF and media in the neighbouring countries, a common tag follows – “Bhutan fully vaccinates 90 % of its eligible adults in a week”.
“The feat is a testimony of Bhutan’s swift response to the pandemic under the dynamic leadership of His Majesty The King and the blessing of His Holiness the Je Khenpo,” said Dr Will Parks, the UNICEF Bhutan representative in a Press Release.
The release also commends the collective efforts of the government, local leaders, frontline workers, citizen volunteers and development partners for making this exemplary to the world.
Speaking to ABC Radio National on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said all these have been possible due to His Majesty’s unwavering guidance, the government’s leadership, the Zhung Dratshang’s prayers, the front liner’s dedication, and the unity exhibited by the public.
In just seven days, more than 454,000 individuals were vaccinated in more than 1,200 vaccination centres across the country involving almost 5,000 health workers and more than 2,000 De-Suup volunteers.
The vaccination drive doesn’t end here.
Beginning Sunday, a vaccination drive for the country’s unreached population started. The campaign targets to cover people who can’t walk and the elderly citizens in the rural areas. It will end this Saturday.
Similarly, children between 12 and 17 years in high-risk areas were also given Pfizer vaccine last week.
And just yesterday, the Health Ministry decided to administer the remaining children between 12 and 17 years with the Moderna vaccine. After the European Medicine Agency approved the vaccine for children, the Drug Regulatory Authority authorised its emergency use in the country.
Meanwhile, going by Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, an individual is not considered fully vaccinated unless he/she gets both doses and completes full duration till the body develops antibodies.
“Our Ministry has always defined a person as fully vaccinated after having received both doses of vaccine and completing two weeks after that. Now, once we have fully vaccinated our community there will be certain relaxation at this point, it is really contingent upon the coverage of the vaccination,” the minister said.
However, with the pandemic raging in the region and the virus becoming rampant, health experts say people must adhere to the safety protocols. In an earlier interview, Dr Sonam Wangchuk from the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group said even after the second dose, one is not fully immune to the virus.
“Vaccination is the only intervention. The transmission will keep on happening but the important thing is, if there is an outbreak of a new variant, non-vaccinated people are likely to see a lot of hospitalization and severity and death,” he added.
With the European and South-East Asian countries already battling the third wave of the pandemic and the emergence of the Lamda variant, it calls for better preparation for the small country to exhibit its uniqueness, yet again.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Chayku
