A health worker gives the first-time dose of COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine to a woman, part of the 65 years and older tier, at a school being used as a vaccination site in Yangon on February 5, 2021. (STR / AFP)
Despite ongoing social and political unrest, Myanmar’s efforts to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 continue with the launch of a vaccination program.
Myanmar approved the Sputnik V vaccine on Feb 6, making it the first country to clear the Russian COVID jabs in Southeast Asia, according to a statement issued by the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund that supported the development of the vaccine.
“Myanmar has become the 21st country in the world to approve Sputnik V,” the RDIF said in the statement.
Myanmar recorded 54 new COVID-19 cases on Feb 7, bringing its total tally to 141,423, according to a release from the country’s Ministry of Health and Sports.
Myanmar recorded 54 new COVID-19 cases on Feb 7, bringing its total tally to 141,423, according to a release from the country’s Ministry of Health and Sports
Though the country entered a yearlong state of emergency on Feb 1, Myanmar resumed a vaccination program against COVID-19 across the country on Feb 5, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the Myanmar health ministry.
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The country started vaccinating about 103,142 frontline medical staff and volunteers since Jan 27, as the first phase of a nationwide vaccination program.
The inoculations began after Myanmar received a first batch, comprising 1.5 million doses, of India’s Covishield vaccine on Jan 22.
On the first day of the vaccination program for the public, some 380,000 people, including teachers and the elderly, were inoculated, according to reports.
Citing Myanmar’s Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin and Minister for International Cooperation U Ko Ko Hlaing, Myanmar Times reported on Feb 7 that the country will strengthen existing COVID-19 containment methods and continue the ongoing vaccination program.
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The Southeast Asian nation will also make efforts to buy more vaccines through bilateral commercial arrangements and the global vaccine sharing initiative COVAX.
Authorities aim to vaccinate about 38.35 million people aged above 18 years within this year.
China, meanwhile, has expressed its support for Myanmar’s COVID-19 fight. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a news conference last week that the nation is providing vaccines to 13 developing countries in Asia, including Myanmar.
Besides COVID-19 vaccines, China said in January that it is providing epidemic control supplies and is also willing to discuss further vaccine cooperation with the country.
But the ongoing political crisis has created new challenges for Myanmar’s fight against the virus.
According to the Myanmar Times, the delivery of the second batch of Indian vaccines was postponed from Feb 4 to Feb 11 as a result of political developments in Myanmar, which saw the military assume power on Feb 1 and declare a state of emergency.
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On Feb 8, people across Yangon continued protesting against the military takeover, following up on demonstrations that took place during the weekend. Many public servants and factory workers also went on strike on Monday, according to China Central Television.
“As long as the public services are not disrupted, we can still expect some good news in regards to the decline of infections numbers and the daily deaths,” said Jonatan Lassa, senior lecturer of emergency and disaster management at Charles Darwin University in Australia.
Though the number of daily new cases in Myanmar has declined significantly from previous months, Lassa said Myanmar is still one of the countries with the lowest COVID-19 testing capabilities in the region.
“A lot of people are going out and this is very dangerous” from the perspective of combating the spread of COVID-19, said Zaw Win Khaing, the founder and general secretary of We Love Yangon, a community-based philanthropic association.
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We Love Yangon launched a series of programs to support people affected during the pandemic, including setting up a temporary hospital. Though the hospital has now been closed following an easing of the COVID-19 crisis, Zaw said the organization is watching the current situation closely and is getting prepared in case there is resurgence in infections.
Despite some fresh concerns, Zaw believes Myanmar’s goal of containing the contagion will not be affected by recent developments.
“We have to try for the best,” said Zaw, who received his first shot of COVID-19 vaccine on Jan 31 and is expected to get the second shot at the end of this month.
