COVID-19: Bhutan vaccinates over 90% of its eligible population in just seven days

Bhutan has vaccinated more than 90% of its eligible population with second dose of COVID-19 vaccine within seven days. Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan with a population of 800,000 began ministering second dose of vaccine on July 20. mass vaccination drive of country has been praised by UNICEF as "arguably fastest vaccination campaign to be executed during a pandemic."

Bhutan vaccinates 90 per cent of its population

Bhutan Health Ministry in a Facebook post said that 90.2% of its eligible population was fully vaccinated. It ded that 61.8% of total population was fully vaccinated. Bhutan started its vaccination drive in April after neighbouring country India sent first set of 550,000 shots of AstraZeneca vaccines. country used all shots to vaccinate its population with first dose. vaccination drive received a setback after India a major supplier of AstraZeneca shot, halted exports due to rising COVID-19 cases in country. 

Bhutan however, restarted its vaccination drive last week after it received Moderna vaccine from United States under UN-backed COVAX program. country received more than 400,000 AstraZeneca shots from Denmark, Croatia and Bulgaria in last two weeks. It also received some 5,000 shots of Pfizer vaccine through COVAX. More than 3,000 health workers worked to vaccinate population of Bhutan. About 1,200 vaccination centres were me across country to ensure that every ult received vaccine. 

Dr Sonam Wangchuk, a member of Bhutan’s vaccination task force told Associated Press that health workers trekked for days through landslides and pouring rain to reach extremely remote vills to minister doses to those who were unable to reach vaccination centre. According to Bhutan Health Ministry, country has reported 2,501 COVID-19 cases since pandemic began. Among m, 2,331 people have recovered while re were 168 active cases in country. Two persons have died due to coronavirus in Bhutan. 

IM: AP/PMOBhutan/Facebook

Inputs from AP