A Myanmar delegation is currently in India to purchase Covid-19 vaccines for 15 million people, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has said. 

She, in her capacity as chair of the National Central Committee for Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment, revealed the information during her televise speech to report the latest situation of Covid-19 in Myanmar on the night of December 24, the Facebook page of the State Counsellor Office reported.  

Covid-19 cases have decreased below 1,000 over the past five days. Although it is a sign of progress, the situation has not been good enough, she commented, urging all to cooperate to control it well.  

“What we are now focusing our attention on is the vaccine. To purchase vaccines for 15 million people, our delegation is now in India. We will get a clearer picture regarding the purchase of this vaccine within next week. We have already made necessary preparations to initiate the vaccination programme not long after the sales agreement has been signed and all the necessary preparations have been made. This is for the whole country. We will be carrying this out step by step in order of priority; for example, the first priority will be for the healthcare workers who are on the frontlines. After that, we will conduct the vaccination programme as needed for the country as well as for the people. This will be carried out step by step. Whatever the case may be, even after we have obtained the vaccines, the vaccination process for the whole country will take months. That is why we need to be very vigilant during this interim period” the State Counsellor said.  

As it could take months before the vaccines become available, people are requested again to live with vigilance to make sure infection does not spread, she added. 

She called for efforts to reduce infection rate considerably and then to wipe it out as the country sees a slight decrease in confirmed cases.  

“If we contain the situation by using the vaccine, our country will be able to operate normally again,” the State Counsellor said. 

She also warned against any violation of the rules and regulations as Charismas comes and New Year is coming.