US donates 201,600 doses of paediatric Covid vaccine

The United States Government has handed over 201,600 doses of paediatric Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to the Lao government through the COVAX facility, to support the country’s efforts to vaccinate children aged 5-11 against Covid-19.
This is COVAX’s latest effort to close the vaccine equity gap globally and contribute to countries’ economic and social recovery from the pandemic, a press release from the United States Embassy stated.

Dr Snong Thongsna (centre left) and Dr Peter M. Haymond (centre middle) gather with officials from the Ministry of Health and the United States Embassy at the vaccine handover ceremony.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Vientiane, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Snong Thongsna thanked the United States Ambassador to Laos, Dr Peter M. Haymond, for the contribution and highlighted the strong diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“The arrival of these vaccines from the United States Government underscores the broadening bilateral relations between Laos and the United States across a range of areas, including public health during the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Deputy Minister said.
Ambassador Haymond congratulated Laos on its success in the fight against Covid-19.
“The United States Government is proud to support the Government of the Lao PDR with this latest contribution of vaccines, which will help keep schoolchildren safe so they can continue to learn without further disruptions during the new school year,” Ambassador Haymond said.     
“The United States stands alongside Laos in this important fight and is here to assist Laos to build back better.”
In addition to supporting the Government of Laos with more than 2.9 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, the United States Government, through USAID, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Department of Defense, UNICEF, and WHO, has been working to strengthen Laos’ capacity to distribute these vaccines, ensure the safety of health workers by providing personal protective equipment, strengthen disease surveillance in the country, and providing equipment to improve immunisation registration and safe vaccine delivery.
WHO Representative to Laos, Dr Ying-Ru Lo, and UNICEF Representative to Laos, Dr Pia Rebello Britto, also attended the ceremony.
“The public health crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of families in Laos and the rest of the world. Vaccines remain crucial in addressing these impacts, and will save lives, especially among those most at risk,” Dr Ying-Ru Lo said.
All vaccines in use in Laos have been approved by the World Health Organisation and Ministry of Health and are proven safe and effective in protecting people from severe illness due to Covid-19.
Dr Britto said “Vaccinating children aged 5 and above is our latest collective effort as COVAX supports equitable, full vaccination of all people in Laos, this time with a focus on the younger generations.”
“It is an important step toward preventing the interruption of in-class learning and overcoming the learning losses children have experienced during the pandemic. This donation represents a strong step in vaccine equity, especially for children and adolescents,” she added.
COVAX is a partnership co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and WHO, with UNICEF as the key delivery partner.
COVAX works in partnership with the World Bank, civil society organisations, manufacturers, and others. COVAX is part of the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator, a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. 
Several COVAX partners have been instrumental in promoting Covid-19 vaccine equity in Laos, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update November 7, 2022)