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October 13, 2022, Vientiane, Lao PDR – On a go to to Sisattanak District Hospital immediately, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink introduced an extra $1.5 Million USD to additional enhance COVID-19 vaccination rollout assist. The funding is run by way of the USA Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) and carried out by the World Well being Group (WHO) and UNICEF.
Forward of the announcement, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink joined Vice Minister of Well being Dr. Snong Thongsna, U.S. Ambassador to Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond, WHO Consultant Dr. Ying-Ru Lo, and UNICEF Officer in Cost David Duncan to look at COVID-19 vaccination efforts and talk about necessities to shut vaccination gaps.
Dr. Thongsna thanked the USA and USAID for his or her increasing assist for COVID-19 in addition to vaccine contribution and rollout. “Defending folks towards COVID-19, to safeguard communities, assist financial restoration, and keep away from disruptions to high school and work is one among our prime priorities,” mentioned Dr. Thongsna. “This well timed further assist from USAID will save lives, guaranteeing our communities throughout Laos perceive the advantages of vaccination and may get vaccinated. We aren’t secure till our most susceptible individuals are secure.
At the moment, 72 % of the inhabitants have accomplished all doses of COVID-19 vaccine main sequence, coming nearer to the 80 % goal for 2022. Nevertheless, just one in 4 of the aged inhabitants, who’re on the highest danger for COVID-19, have accomplished the COVID-19 main sequence.
The funding will assist vaccine supply, group outreach, media campaigns and a variety of different help to extend COVID-19 vaccine protection, particularly for susceptible communities, aged and folks with disabilities. A key focus will probably be to help the Ministry of Well being (MOH) to mobilize well being care staff to extend vaccination efforts, together with door to door vaccinations to rural and susceptible populations.
“At this time’s announcement reaffirms the robust partnership, underneath the U.S. Lao Complete Partnership, in combating COVID-19 and setting the inspiration to construct again higher,” mentioned Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink. “The extra $1.5 Million will help the Authorities of Lao PDR to additional assist COVID-19 vaccination rollout to susceptible and at-risk populations, together with aged folks and folks with disabilities in addition to these in hard-to-reach areas.”
The funding is a part of the U.S. Authorities’s COVID-19 assist of over $16.7 million in assist of vaccine rollout, along with its current arrival of 201,600 doses of pediatric Pfizer vaccine by way of the COVAX facility, serving to Lao PDR vaccinate kids aged 5–11 and obtain its 80 % vaccination goal by the top of 2022. So far, the USA has supplied over 2.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
WHO’s Dr. Lo mentioned, “We’re deeply grateful for the steadfast assist from the U.S. Authorities. We’re not there but, however the finish of the pandemic is inside attain. With efforts and dedication by households, communities and the well being sector, we are able to guarantee everyone seems to be protected and get better collectively, safely. We ask: get vaccinated.”
All vaccines in use in Lao PDR have been accepted by WHO and Ministry of Well being, and are confirmed to be secure and efficient in defending folks from extreme sickness attributable to COVID-19.
“Vaccines are secure and save lives, however, solely by working collectively and guaranteeing everyone seems to be vaccinated – kids, remoted communities, our sick and aged – can we think about the job completed,” mentioned UNICEF’s Mr. Duncan. “We should make any and each effort to guard everybody throughout Lao PDR, significantly these most at-risk. This grant will assist Lao PDR attain this very important objective.”
Benefit from the occasion’ pictures right here.
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