Dr Bounseuth Keoprasith (left) shakes hands with Mr Thomas Lammar during the vaccine handover in Vientiane.

Luxembourg steps up support for nationwide immunisation 

The Government of Luxembourg on Monday handed over a shipment of vaccines to prevent the spread of disease among children, as well as reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates.
The vaccines, valued at US$875,000, are intended to reduce disease outbreaks among vulnerable populations and strengthen Laos’ emergency response systems against potential large-scale epidemics.
The shipment was handed over in Vientiane by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Luxembourg to Laos, Mr Thomas Lammar, to Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Bounseuth Keoprasith.
Also present on the occasion was UNICEF Representative to Laos, Dr Mohammad Yunus, along with various international development partners and senior health sector officials.
Dr Bounseuth said the vaccines would significantly strengthen the operational capacity of vaccination staff at all levels. 
“This support ensures a stable and sufficient vaccine supply for target groups, protecting communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and progressively safeguarding the lives of mothers and children,” he said.
Dr Bounseuth thanked the people of Luxembourg for their longstanding commitment to rural healthcare in Laos. He noted that Luxembourg’s support had contributed to major public health achievements, including the milestone declaration of Laos being polio-free in 2000.
This latest vaccine donation is part of an expanding portfolio of  cooperation between the two countries.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1997, Luxembourg has become one of Laos’ key international development partners.
Aid to Laos has exceeded Euro 21.8 million annually, with health and nutrition initiatives accounting for approximately 48 percent of the total budget, according to the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.
The vaccine shipment follows the 4th Steering Committee meeting of the Laos-Luxembourg Health and Nutrition Programme held earlier this year.
To ensure the newly donated vaccines can safely reach remote rural communities, Luxembourg is also deploying advanced cold-chain transport equipment across provincial healthcare networks in Laos.
The growing momentum in medical cooperation reflects agreements reached during an official visit by the Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs to Luxembourg, when both countries pledged to deepen bilateral relations, expand trade, and strengthen cooperation in social protection and universal health coverage.
Beyond health and nutrition, Luxembourg’s long-term Indicative Cooperation Programmes continue to support high-impact projects across Laos.
This latest vaccine delivery underscores a shared long-term vision of combining high-quality medical assistance with modern healthcare infrastructure to improve living standards for all citizens of Laos, particularly those in remote and ethnically diverse communities.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 20, 2026)