JNS: As a gift from India, Myanmar received 1.5 million doses on Friday of COVID-19 vaccine. Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar tweeted that the vaccines had arrived in Myanmar to contribute to its efforts to inoculate its population.
Ambassador of India to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar called on the Union Minister for Health & Sports in Nay Pyi Taw Friday to discuss cooperation on the COVID-19 vaccine and other issues of mutual concern.
The gift of COVID 19 vaccine to Myanmar is in response to the request received from India’s neighbouring and partner countries for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines.
In a press release earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that India will start supplying the COVID 19 vaccine to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles under its grant assistance scheme from Wednesday.
Bangladesh received 2 million doses of the Corona vaccine as a gift from India on Thursday.
Prior to the delivery, a training programme, covering administrative and operational aspects, was conducted earlier this week for immunization managers, cold chain officers, communication officers and data managers of the recipient countries.
According to the official website of the government of Myanmar, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday that vaccines from India will help in vaccinating 7.5 lakh people in the country as each person will be required to take the vaccine at an interval of 4 weeks.
She said that the Ministry of Health and Sports has chalked out detailed plans to carry out the vaccination programme in the country.
Myanmar has decided to give first priority to health personnel for COVID 19 vaccination. She said vaccination in Myanmar will begin next week for which plans for the storage, handling and vaccination programme have been worked out.
