The last batch of the COVID-19 vaccines among ten million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines and 13 million sets of syringes and two mobile laboratory vehicles donated by the Chinese Embassy arrived at Yangon on 29 May.
The handover ceremony of the donated vaccines, syringes and the mobile laboratory vehicles, was held at the VIP airport lounge of Yangon International Airport on 29 May. During the ceremony, Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win highlighted the following points:
- The donated vaccines will be given to both students from 5 to 12 years of age in the primary schools that will reopen soon and out-of-school children.
- As the two mobile laboratories will be used mainly at border crossings where there is no COVID-19 RT-PCR machine, COVID-19 prevention and control activities will be effectively carried out in the areas. Moreover, it will also contribute to the fast and smooth flow of as well as to the recovery of the border trade sector development.
- The Myanmar Centre of Disease Control (CDC) which is important in Myanmar’s epidemic control is being set up in Nay Pyi Taw, and the assistance of the Chinese government was very helpful to Myanmar. In addition, the centre will be able to serve as an international recognition centre not only locally but also internationally.
- COVID-19 vaccination process is being carried out nationwide and the rate of the pandemic is now below 1 %.
Afterwards, the officials signed the handover document and cordially discussed on the matters related to the plans to continue and further cooperation of controlling the infectious diseases including COVID-19 in the border areas. They also discussed the Sino-Myanmar border malaria eradication project and the animal disease laboratory project.
- The handover ceremony of COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment donated by the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar was held on 29 May.
- The donated vaccines will be given to both students from 5 to 12 years of age in the primary schools that will reopen soon and two mobile laboratories will be used mainly at border crossings where there is no COVID-19 RT-PCR machine.