Vaccination teams take to the roads in Huaphan, Phongsaly

Huaphan and Phongsaly provinces toughened up the battle against Covid-19 this week to ensure that 50 percent of their populations are vaccinated by the end of this year. 

Vaccination uptake in these provinces currently remains low at 31-33 percent.
Director of the Huaphan provincial Health Department, Dr Vilaphone Phomvongsy, told Vientiane Times that mobile medical teams have been travelling through 10 districts of the province since November 4 to deliver vaccinations in rural communities where the rate of immunisation is low.
Each team consists of a vaccine provider, a vaccination campaigner, and staff who can provide treatment if need be.
“Most communities have seen low vaccination rates because road travel was difficult in the rainy season,” Dr Vilaphone said.
This is especially true in Kuan district where the roads are cut off when river levels rise.
Another reason for low vaccination uptake is that some villagers are reluctant to be vaccinated after hearing rumours of side effects.
Dr Vilaphone said that if there is no more rain, he hopes river levels will fall early next month, when medics will gear up to deliver vaccinations at people’s homes.
He hopes to get 50 percent of the more than 300,000 population of Huaphan province vaccinated by the end of this year.
In support of this, the government has allocated about 700 million kip to the province to carry out the vaccination drive and ensure that people are immunised promptly.
Director of the Phongsaly provincial Health Department, Dr Bounsaly Chittaphone, said the province is preparing to vaccinate people who missed the first round of immunisation. The department has arranged for a mobile team to provide vaccinations at people’s homes.
Deputy Director of the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Dr Viengkhan Phixay, said that starting this week medical staff throughout the country will beef up efforts to get people vaccinated and will travel around villages to administer vaccinations at people’s homes.

By Xayxana Leukai
 (Latest Update November 11, 2021)