Over 19.8 mln people in Myanmar receive COVID vaccines until 18 December

More than 19.8 million individuals in Myanmar have so far been vaccinated COVID vaccine as of 18 December, according to a release from the Ministry of Health.
The country is administrating the vaccines to 36.9 million people aged 18 and above. Up to 18 November, there were 13.74 million people who completed full doses of vaccine and about 6.05 million people received single doses of COVID vaccine, according to the ministry.
Earlier, those above 65 years old were in the priority group to be vaccinated. Now, the priority lists for Covid jabs have been increased and the lists include people above 55 years of age. Besides, COVID vaccines have been provided to above 45-year-olds starting from 17 October and to above 40s starting from 9 November, according to them.
A total of 40,168,800 doses of vaccines have arrived in Myanmar as of 21 November with 9,168,800 doses being donated and 31 million doses being purchased, according to the Ministry.
As per the sale contract on the purchase of the China-made Sinopharm COVID vaccine, all 24 million doses have arrived in Myanmar. Those vaccines will be given to about 50 per cent of the target groups in December, the ministry stated.
The country has been administering COVID vaccines to the people since January 2021, using the China-made Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, across states and regions. — Aye Maung/GNLM