Humanitarian Assistance: China hands over COVID-19 Vaccines to Myanmar

Aiming to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar and to boost bilateral cooperation and the existing China-Myanmar Pauk-Phaw friendship, the People’s Republic of China provided 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines (Sinopharm) and 2 million syringes to Myanmar through ASEAN channel on Friday. 

The handover ceremony of Chinese Government’s contribution of COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar was held at the Yangon International airport. At the ceremony, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar Zheng Zhihong and Deputy Director-General of Yangon Regional Health Department Dr. Tun Min delivered remarks, respectively.

Deputy Director General, Yangon Regional Health Department, Dr. Tun Min said "Before, China has donated millions of Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines to Myanmar several times. This time, China has provided medical supplies through ASEAN channel. Although there are vaccines donations from India, Russia and ASEAN countries, China is the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the government has endeavoured to provide vaccines such as Covidsheild, Sinopharm, Myancopharm from Ywar Thar Gyi pharmaceutical factory and Sputnik-V from Russia with the state fund."

The Ministry of Health is implementing the COVID-19 vaccination program throughout Myanmar, aiming to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in different waves in line with Myanmar National Vaccine Deployment Plan. 

Deputy Director General, Yangon Regional Health Department, Dr. Tun Min said "The number of vaccinated populations has been expanded due to China’s vaccine supply. 30 million of population aged 18 and above have already been vaccinated and vaccine coverage has reached to 96% of the targeted population as of 29th August this year."

Myanmar has received continuous supports and humanitarian assistance from China to fight against COVID-19 since April, 2020.

Plans are being made to distribute these medical supplies and equipment of COVID-19 response to hospitals and health care facilities across the country through Myanmar Red Cross Society in a timely manner under the humanitarian assistance program.