Arakan State unlikely to achieve 100% Covid-19 vaccine coverage, says health official

By DMG 27 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
27 May 2022, Sittwe 

The Arakan State Public Health Department still aims for 100 percent coverage of a two-dose Covid-19 vaccine regimen in Arakan State, but many have refused to receive their second shot, according to the department’s assistant director, Dr. Soe Win Paing. 

“We have been vaccinating people against Covid-19. But there are many people who have not received a second dose after having the first dose. We are also providing booster shots for those who have received both doses,” said Dr. Soe Win Paing. 

At a press conference on April 27, junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said the regime aims for 100 percent coverage of both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine nationwide by May. 

So far in Arakan State, 1,728,212 people have received the first dose, 1,323,907 people have been double-dosed, and 176,079 people aged over 40 have received booster shots, according to the state Public health department. 

More Covid-19 vaccines were expected to arrive in Arakan State in the last week of May. Among the shipments will be batches of the domestically produced Myancopharm Covid-19 vaccine, said Dr. Soe Win Paing. 

“We don’t know yet about the number of Covid-19 vaccines to be delivered to Arakan State,” he added. 

Since February, new Covid-19 infections have declined dramatically both in Arakan State and across Myanmar, according to the regime’s Ministry of Health. The ministry said just 20 new cases were reported nationwide on May 27, down from a peak of about 6,000 new infections reported daily at the height of the virus’s worst wave in July of last year.