July 1, 2021

Bhutan will receive around 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Denmark at the earliest possible, according to a press release from the Danish foreign ministry today.

“The government has also decided to donate approx. 250,000 doses of the vaccine from AstraZeneca to Bhutan, which urgently lacks doses for the implementation of other plugs for a large part of the population,” the press release stated.

The Danish authorities are working to get the vaccine doses delivered to Bhutan as soon as possible, according to the release.

The press release cited Ole Jensen, Deputy Director of the Statens Serum Institut, saying: “Donation and transport of vaccines is a complex process. There are still a number of practical and legal ends to be met so that donations can be carried out as efficiently and safely as possible. We are working hard on that.”

Earlier this week, Health Minister Dechen Wangmo indicated that the vaccines could arrive in the country at the earliest. Denmark was one of the 18 countries the government was in contact with to procure the vaccines bilaterally. 

Kuensel learnt that the government had made extensive progress in sourcing vaccines for the second dose, and had received communication from multiple countries that they would ensure the booster dose for all eligible bhutanese.

It was also learnt that the government had made a provision for the children too.

Bhutan needs at least 500,000 doses for the second round.

Source: Kuensel