Nima Wangdi 

A chartered flight dropped 90,090 doses of Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine arrived at the Paro International airport around 7am yesterday.

American people in partnership with COVAX gifted the vaccines in coordination with the Bhutan Foundation and UNICEF according to the press release from the U.S Embassy & Consulates in India.

“These safe and effective vaccines will protect lives in Bhutan and help prevent dangerous new variants from spreading,” the release stated.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director to India and Bhutan, Veena Reddy said that the United States deeply valued their relationship with the people of Bhutan.

She said that the USAID and other US government agencies have stood with Bhutan since the outset of the pandemic and continue to partner with Bhutan to strengthen its healthcare capacity and also in addressing the economic impacts of the pandemic. “The United States is committed to leading the global COVID-19 response because it is the right thing to do and will make us all-Americans and Bhutanese alike—safer.”

The US has also donated 500,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to Bhutan on July 12, 2021, and 5,850 doses of Pfizer on May 25, 2021, through COVAX.

The press release stated that the USAID, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other US government agencies have worked closely with Bhutan since the pandemic began bolstering Bhutan’s pandemic preparedness.

“They have also provided virtual training for healthcare workers, developed communications materials on Covid-19 prevention, readiness, response, supported a post-introduction survey of Covid-19 vaccines and helped businesses and entrepreneurs overcome the economic impacts of the pandemic,” the press release stated.

It stated that the US government agencies have also provided personal protective equipment and medical supplies to Bhutan.

The vaccines were handed over to the health ministry according to the officials from the Bhutan Foundation.