Addressing Monday’s press conference about Macao’s novel coronavirus situation, the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases Department Coordinator Leong Iek Hou said that the Macao government will purchase 1.4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, covering the city’s whole population as each person will need two shots in order for the vaccine to be effective.
According to official statistics, Macao had a population – comprising residents and non-resident workers – of 685,400 at the end of the second quarter.
Leong said that getting residents vaccinated against the novel coronavirus will be an important part of the Macao government’s Covid-19 prevention work so it has been in close communication with vaccine suppliers worldwide for Macao’s possible purchase of their Covid-19 vaccines in the future.
COVAX Facility
Leong revealed that last week the Macao government signed an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Gavi vaccine alliance for Macao to join their “COVAX” global vaccine allocation plan, according to which Macao will be able to purchase Covid-19 vaccines covering a certain percentage of its population under the global vaccine collective procurement initiative – also known as COVAX Facility.
Leong pointed out that the COVAX Facility will give priority to Covid-19 high-risk countries and regions in vaccine procurement, adding that therefore Covid-19 vaccines are expected to be supplied to Macao at a later time under the initiative.
Therefore, Leong said that in addition to signing up for the COVAX Facility, the Macao government will continue its discussions with various vaccine suppliers worldwide on details about its possible purchase of their future COVID-19 vaccines.
The Health Bureau has said that once Macao is able to purchase Covid-19 vaccines, the elderly, chronically-ill patients and anti-Covid-19 medical workers will be the first to get vaccinated.
Leong said on Monday that the number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines to be bought by the Macao government will ultimately cover the city’s whole population, meaning that it will have to buy 1.4 million doses as each person will have to get two jabs so as to make the Covid-19 vaccination effective.
Macao has not recorded a new Covid-19 case for 87 days, while no local case has been confirmed in 176 days.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
