A total of 736,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, the second donation from China, arrived at Yangon International Airport on the evening of July 22, according to Dr Yan Naung Tun, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Research under the Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS).

“They are donated by the Sinopharm Company of the People's Republic of China. A total of 368,000 injections arrived today. As for the total doses, it is 736,000. On May 5, we received the first donation of 500,000 doses for 250,000 people,” he said.

They are for 750,000 people. The total number of doses is 368,000. One vial can be used for two people, he said.

“The first vaccines donated for the first time are Sinopharm, which can give one dose for each patient. Now you can inject two patients with one dose. The number of bottles is 360,000 and the number of injections is 720,000 or 360,000 people can inject twice,” he said.

A total of 768,000 needles were also included. As a priority, health workers from government hospitals and private hospitals, who have not yet been vaccinated, and those who have not been vaccinated will be vaccinated. The second priority will be those who are providing services to the public.

“We bought four million doses and China donated two million more doses. More doses will be delivered on July 23 and 24,” he said.

The 13.2 tons weight of Sinopharm vaccines were carried by Air China.

More than 60 countries are using the vaccines and it has approval from the World Health Organization for emergency use.