UN contributes to Covid-19 vaccination programme
 
The government has received 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus in Laos.
The arrival of the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility in Vientiane on Saturday marked an important step forward in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine contribute to the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Covid-19 vaccines together with other vaccines received through bilateral cooperation.

The vaccines, which are funded by the COVAX Facility, are expected to be administered in April.
There were handed over by the UN Resident Coordinator to Laos, Ms Sara Sekkenes, to the Minister of Health, Associate Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong.
This batch of vaccines is part of the total 480,000 doses which Laos is expected to receive from the COVAX Facility this year for distribution to about 20 percent of the total population.
The vaccines were procured by UNICEF and will be administered by the government with the technical support of the World Health Organisation.
So far, the country has received vaccine donations from China and the Russian Federation and began its first vaccination roll-out on January 27.
As additional vaccines become approved and listed for emergency use by WHO, it is anticipated that such vaccines, if offered by producing countries, can also be provided through the COVAX Facility and enlarge the initiative aimed at providing equitable access to vaccines.
Ms Sekkenes said “With appreciation for the work of WHO and UNICEF together with a number of additional actors and financial contributors, I would like to commend the Lao government for its achievements in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and its efforts in working to vaccinate its population.”
“The UN Country Team stands ready to provide technical assistance including supporting resource mobilisation and trust building in and demand for vaccines that meet the highest international standards for the implementation of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination programme to ensure its safety, efficacy and equity.”
The government isprioritising the vaccination of medical staff, officials working at land border crossings and airports, other essential workers, people above the age of 60, and people with underlying health conditions.
Ms Sekkenes said “Whilst ensuring the vaccination of priority groups first, like elsewhere, we would also like to call for the equitable allocation of vaccines, ensuring they are provided to vulnerable and hard to reach marginalised groups such as migrant workers, internally displaced and rural populations, and in particular ethnic populations in remote areas, and also imprisoned detainees for whom social distancing can be challenging.”
Together with the UN Country Team, development partners, non-governmental organisations, civil social organisations and other bodies have been actively supporting the government to protect its people during the pandemic.
A number of activities coordinated and supported by the United Nations in collaboration with Lao authorities to address the health challenges and related impacts due to Covid-19 have been implemented.

By Phetphoxay sengpaseuth
(Latest Update March 22, 2021)