Myanmar receives Thai-donated 500,000 AstraZeneca doses, 500,000 needles

The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Thailand government arrived at the Yangon International Airport yesterday.
Of one million doses of AstraZeneca, a total of 500,000 doses and 500,000 needles was included in the initial batch and the handover ceremony was organized at the airport.
The event was attended by Permanent Executive Committee member Dr Tin Nyunt of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, General Secretary Prof Dr Htin Zaw Soe, Yangon Region Public Health Department Director Dr Yan Naung Tun, Charge d’ affairs Mrs Kanokwan Pengsuwan of the Thai Embassy to Myanmar, Minister Counsellor Ms Chana Sindhvananda, First Secretary Ms Chalermkwan Worranit and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The newly-arrived COVID-19 vaccines will be allocated to the regions with a low level of vaccine coverage in addition to the border areas.
The Ministry of Health accelerate the momentum in the vaccination programme as per the target groups and 24.7 million of people across the nation received the vaccines up to 12 March, while 21.4 million people have been fully vaccinated and 3.3 million people receive their first dose of vaccine. Therefore, a total of 47.01 million vaccines were delivered in the country until 12 March. If people have been fully vaccinated, the vaccines can help prevent serious illness and death.
The Ministry of Health urged the people to receive the vaccines without fail and those who receive the first shots to get vaccinated for second doses on the due date or within the fixed period at the nearest vaccination sites and to participate in the processes actively. —MNA