The Ministry of Health will be receiving 65,000 doses of pandemic vaccine free of cost from the World Health Organisation (WHO) by first week of March, officials say.

The countries eligible for WHO pandemic vaccine support includes Bhutan out of 94 other countries.

Officials also said that once the vaccine arrives in the country, the ministry will start its utilisation by focussing mainly on the greater risks first.

The Ministry’s target group to receive the vaccination will comprise first of health workers, pregnant women, children between six to 24 months and patients with chronic diseases.

The ministry reasoned that health workers are a vital group who needs to receive the vaccine as they are the ones who come into direct contact with any kind of patients in the hospitals.

As for pregnant women, they will be receiving the vaccine through line listing, household survey and confirmed pregnancy. Even with regards to children between six to 24 months, the vaccine will be provided to them by referring to  immunisation register and also through household survey.

Patients with chronic disease who will receive the vaccine includes patients with diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, HIV and immune compromised patient, asthma and active pulmonary TB.

The household survey to identify pregnant women and children between six to 24 months has been already collected from all the districts.

Speaking to BHUTAN TODAY, the Programme Officer of MoH, Tshewang Tamang said that the ministry will be conducting a training programme for trainers on the 26 January in Mongar and Gelephu.

Tshewang Tamang said that as it is not possible for all the people from other regions to come to Thimphu to receive the vaccine, these two places were identified.

“ The ministry had already developed the guidelines for better understanding of H1N1 at the moment and the trainers from Mongar and Gelephu who will undergo the training will be trained on these guidelines,” said the programme officer.

By Sonam Phuentsho in Thimphu