Today, 523,200 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Facility – a partnership co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF were handed over to the Government of Lao PDR in an official ceremony held at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.
523,200 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Facility arrived in Lao PDR on 31 Oct 2021.©CCEH
The new doses of COVID-19 vaccine will help Lao PDR achieve its 2021 goal of 50 per cent vaccination coverage target draws closer.
The ceremony was chaired by H.E Prof. Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Prime Minister and was attended by H.E. Dr. Sanong Thongsana, Vice Minister of Health, Dr. Jun Gao, WHO Officer-in-Charge to Lao PDR, Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR, alongside key development partners.
“The Government of Lao PDR greatly appreciates the support of the COVAX Facility in procuring these life-saving vaccines for the people of Lao PDR, beginning with the first shipment of doses supported by the COVAX Facility in early 2021 up until now, and we commend their commitment to ensuring global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This new shipment of vaccines will accelerate the efforts to reach 50 per cent of the population in 2021,” said H.E Prof. Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune.
From left Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom Director of Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion; Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR, H.E. Dr. Sanong Thongsana, Vice Minister of Health (Middle-right) and Dr. Jun Gao, Officer-In-Charge of WHO Representative to Lao PDR at the Airport Tarmac.©WHO/Vannaseng Insal
The vaccines will be primarily used for those who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 but have not received all recommended doses yet. The priority groups include frontline workers including healthcare workers, elderly aged 60 years or above, people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and essential workers including school teachers and staff across the country in line with the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan.
“This is another very important moment in Lao PDR’s COVID-19 response efforts. We are now close to our vaccination target for the end of this year and this new shipment is a great contribution from the COVAX Facility to help us achieve this goal and will enable us to further control community transmission in Lao PDR. This vaccine is safe and effective in preventing severe disease and death, including against the delta variant.” said Dr. Jun Gao, WHO Officer-in-Charge to Lao PDR.
As of 31 October 2021, about 45 per cent of the eligible population in Lao PDR have now received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and around 39 per cent have received all recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccination.
"UNICEF is proud to be part of the COVAX Facility and to support the COVID-19 response in Lao PDR. We will continue working with our partners to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in the country, playing a leading role in supplying COVID-19 vaccines to Lao PDR and contributing to strengthening the country’s capacity to handle the pandemic. We are particularly grateful to our partners for their contributions to Gavi and COVAX which are helping to vaccinate the Lao population. We all have to continue working together in solidarity as nobody is safe until everyone is safe," stated Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR.
From left H.E Prof. Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, UNICEF Representative and Dr. Jun Gao, WHO Officer-in-Charge to Lao PDR during the official handover. ©WHO/Phillipe Aramburu
Gavi board members represented in Lao PDR include Australia, Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, The Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and CEPI, working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, civil society organizations, manufacturers, and others. COVAX is part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
The AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in the Republic of Korea by SK Bioscience Co. Ltd (SK Bio) has been granted for emergency use by WHO and by the Food & Drug Department, Ministry of Health.