ASEAN’S COVID-19 VACCINATIONS (UPDATES)
ASEAN’S COVID-19 VACCINATIONS (UPDATES)-
France to double Covid vaccine doses for poorer countries
PARIS: France will double the number of vaccine doses it will send to poorer countries to 120 million, President Emmanuel Macron(pix) pledged on Saturday, in a video broadcast during the Global Citizen concert in Paris.
“The injustice is that in other continents, obviously, vaccination is very late,“ he said. “We have to go faster, stronger.
“France pledges to double the number of doses it is giving,“ he added. “We will pass from 60 million to 120 million doses offered.”
That amounted to more than the doses so far administered in France, he said.
On Wednesday, the United States announced that it would be doubling its donation of vaccine doses, bringing its total contribution to 1.1 billion.
President Joe Biden described the pandemic as an “all-hands-on-deck crisis,“ adding “we need other high-income countries to deliver on their own ambitions”.
The European Union has committed to distributing 500 million doses.
And China’s President Xi Jinping, in a video message broadcast to the UN on Tuesday, pledged a total of two billion doses by the end of the year, repeating a figure already given by the Chinese authorities.
It was not made clear how many of those would be sold and how many donated.
In his statement, Macron also said that France would work with the UN’s children’s organisation UNICEF in their efforts to help African countries organise their vaccination roll-out.
France would also redirect 20 percent of the special funding it received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) towards projects designed to restart the economies of African countries, said Macron.
“If all the major powers do the same as France, we will reach 100 billion dollars for Africa,“ he added.
Finally, Macron pledged that France would spend 330 million euros to promote education in France.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, has repeatedly denounced the injustice of the massive imbalance in the distribution of vaccine doses in rich and poor countries.
“I will not stay silent when the companies and countries that control the global supply of vaccines think the world’s poor should be satisfied with leftovers,“ he said earlier this month.
African leaders pleaded for the chance to buy vaccine doses for their people during a meeting of the African Union earlier this month.
According to an AFP tally drawn from official sources, Africa’s 53 countries, with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, has had a total of 10 vaccine doses per 100 people.
In contrast, the United States and Canada, with a population of just over 368 million people, has had 120 doses per hundred people. –AFP
From NY to Seoul, Billie Eilish, BTS in global climate, vaccine concerts
Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS. PHOTO: AP /
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PARIS (AFP) – From Billie Eilish in New York to BTS in Seoul and Elton John in Paris, some of the biggest names in pop are uniting their star power for Global Citizen Live today, a round-the-world event to raise awareness on climate change, vaccine equality and famine.
Concerts taking place in London, Lagos, Rio, Sydney, Mumbai and more will be broadcast globally for the event. The star-studded line-up will also push for action at the G20 next month and COP26 climate meeting in November.
Eilish, Coldplay and Jennifer Lopez will perform in New York’s Central Park, where Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will also be on stage.
Stevie Wonder will play in Los Angeles, while Ed Sheeran will headline in Paris alongside Elton John, Black Eyed Peas and Stormzy.
And there will be pre-recorded performances from BTS in South Korea, DJ superstar Alok in Rio, Kylie Minogue in London and Andrea Bocelli in Tuscany.
“Across six continents, artistes will help rally citizens in demanding that governments, major corporations and philanthropists work together to defend the planet and defeat poverty,” NGO Global Citizen said in a statement.
It said it was focussing “on the most urgent, interrelated threats hitting those in poverty the hardest – climate change, vaccine equity, and famine”.
A slew of other artistes – including Metallica and The Weeknd – are also involved, either through live or filmed performances.
Global Citizen said it wants one billion trees planted, one billion vaccines delivered to the poorest countries and meals for 41 million people on the brink of famine.
Here is the ASEAN status:
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BRUNEI—
Brunei receives 100,000 AZ vaccines from Japan
Brunei Darussalam received 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Government of Japan yesterday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof received the vaccines on behalf of the Brunei Government from Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam Eiji Yamamoto at the Brunei International Airport last night.
The Japanese Ambassador expressed his respect to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for His Majesty’s astute leadership in the COVID-19 fight.
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CAMBODIA-
Cambodia’s vaccination campaign against COVID-19 to reach 13 million people vaccinated today
Khmer Times
Cambodia’s relentless campaign to vaccinate up to 91 percent of its population against COVID-19 will achieve another remarkable milestone today when the number of people vaccinated will cross the 13 million mark as it strive to inoculate at least 91 percent of her people.
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INDONESIA-
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The vaccination drive is gaining speed with 2.3 million doses delivered, the highest number of jabs in a single day since the campaign began on January 13.
More than 82 million citizens in the country of 272 million have been partially vaccinated against Covid-19.
President Joko Widodo said vaccination has become a priority in his government’s current Covid-19 policies.
“We focus on two things: ramping up vaccination and strengthening health protocols,” the president said during a visit to Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in West Java.
The government has received nearly 6 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the last two days alone, including 5 million Sinovac doses and nearly 700,000 AstraZeneca doses.
In total, Indonesia has received the equivalent of 268 million doses of half-finished and finished Covid-19 vaccines from government procurements, multilateral donors and bilateral assistance, a Health Ministry spokeswoman said.
The vaccination drive is gaining speed with 2.3 million doses delivered, the highest number of jabs in a single day since the campaign began on January 13.
More than 82 million citizens in the country of 272 million have been partially vaccinated against Covid-19.
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LAOS- –
Russia donates 30,000 doses of Covid vaccine
A consignment of 30,000 doses of the Sputnik Light Covid-19 vaccine provided to Laos by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations arrived in Vientiane on Wednesday to bolster efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
On September 22, a special flight organised by the Russian emergencies ministry delivered the vaccine as part of the country’s humanitarian aid to Laos, in response to a request from the Lao government.
By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 24, 2021)
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Jabs planned for students so schools can reopen
Authorities plan to vaccinate students aged 12 and older so that schools can reopen, Minister of Health Prof. Dr Bounfeng Phommalaysith has said.
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The plan will see the vaccination programme extended to children so that schools can reopen.
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As of September 15, up to 2,739,614 people had received a first dose of a vaccine while 1,890,717 people had been given two doses.
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This progress has been made possible due to the assistance and support extended by friendly countries, international organisations and other sectors of society that have stimulated the government’s vaccination programme.
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MALAYSIA—
Adolescent vaccination: Follow the instructions, SOPs set – Khairy
PUTRAJAYA: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has reminded vaccination centres (PPV), district health offices (PKD) and district education offices (PPD) involved in the implementation of the vaccination programme for adolescents, not to issue different sets of instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He also urged parents or guardians to bring their teenage children to the PPV according to the scheduled date and time.
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MYANMAR-
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PHILIPPINES-
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Philippines aims to vaccinate 90% of population against Covid-19 before 2022 electionSo far, 19 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with 23.1 million partially vaccinated.So far, 19 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with 23.1 million partially vaccinated.PHOTO: REUTERS
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MANILA (PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Philippines is aiming to vaccinate at least 90 per cent of the country’s population against Covid-19 by February 2022 in preparation for the May national election.
The government has started preparing for its second phase of vaccine procurement and is negotiating for more shots as well as booster jabs, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr said in a taped briefing on Wednesday (Sept 22) night.
Current talks with four companies involve an additional 90 million vaccines, and the procurement takes into consideration Philippines’ May 2022 election to select a new president, he said.
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DILG exec proposes requiring vaccine cards to be worn like IDs outdoors
DILG exec proposes requiring vaccine cards to be worn like IDs outdoors
Undated file photo shows a vaccination card of Manila
Philstar.com / Ian Lising, file
MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government proposed vaccination cards issued by local government units certifying that one is vaccinated should be worn like IDs.
Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño made the suggestion at Wednesday’s Laging Handa briefing as he presented his own vaccination card being worn with a lanyard and an ID case.
RELATED STORIES
Mobility for fully vaccinated a global norm – Concepcion
Mobility for fully vaccinated a global norm � Concepcion
Residents receive a dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City on July 21, 2021.
The STAR / Boy Santos, file
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion initiated a dialogue on safer travel with key tourism industry stakeholders in relation to his recent appeal to help the aviation industry from crashing.
Governors and mayors from popular tourist destinations such as Cebu, Bohol, Boracay Aklan, Coron and Busuanga in Palawan engaged with industry representatives, exploring the resumption of tourism activities in their respective areas.
Stressing that providing greater mobility to the fully vaccinated is now the norm worldwide, Concepcion reiterated his call to the government to impose fewer restrictions to fully vaccinated passengers to encourage them to travel.
Inclusion of vaccine perks mulled for bars, travels
By: Dyrecka Letigio – CDN Digital Multi-Media Reporter|September 22,2021 – 06:40 PM
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Domestic travel requirements may be eased up when Cebu City returns to Modified General Community Quarantine next month. CDN Digital/Brian J. Ochoa
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is mulling expanding the perks for vaccinated individuals when the city’s status is downgraded to a Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
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SINGAPORE-
Vaccines help keep severe and ICU cases in check as Covid-19 infections continue to rise
Vaccines are keeping severe cases from rising as quickly as overall case numbers.
Vaccines are keeping severe cases from rising as quickly as overall case numbers.PHOTO: ST FILE
.Timothy Goh
SINGAPORE – The recent surge in Covid-19 cases may take a long time to peak and it is not yet time to ease restrictions here, say experts.
But there is a silver lining, as it appears that vaccines are keeping severe cases from rising as quickly as overall case numbers.
Thursday (Sept 23) marks one month since the current wave of transmission began on Aug 23.
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THAILAND
Shorter quarantine for some visitorsDomestic travellers are at Suvarnabhumi airport early this month when domestic flights resumed. The National Communicable Disease Committee decided on Thursday that some tourist areas should welcome foreign visitors in November and shorten their quarantine from 14 days. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Domestic travellers are at Suvarnabhumi airport early this month when domestic flights resumed. The National Communicable Disease Committee decided on Thursday that some tourist areas should welcome foreign visitors in November and shorten their quarantine from 14 days. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
NONTHABURI: The National Communicable Disease Committee will propose shorter quarantine periods for some groups of visitors, from 14 days to 7-10 days, to stimulate the economy.
After chairing the meeting of the committee at the Public Health Ministry on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the committee resolved to propose to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration that the 14-day quarantine for foreign tourists visiting Thailand should be shortened to stimulate the economy.
The shorter quarantine would be implemented in some tourist areas and concerned officials were considering their readiness regarding vaccination coverage, local Covid-19 situations and hospital bed occupancy rates.
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VIETNAM
Việt Nam to buy 20 million doses of Sinopharm’s Vero Cell COVID-19 vaccine
Update: September, 23/2021
A resident in Hoàng Mai District, Hà Nội, receives a shot of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on September 10. — VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Khánh
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HÀ NỘI — The Government has agreed to buy 20 million doses of the Vero Cell COVID-19 vaccine produced by China’s Sinopharm.
The purchase was announced in Resolution 110/NQ-CP.
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Earlier this week, the Drug Administration of Việt Nam has agreed to allow Vimedimex to import 30 million doses of Hayat-Vax COVID-19 vaccines, which are essentially Sinopharm vaccines but are packaged in the UAE.
It was given conditional approval by the Vietnamese health ministry for emergency use on September 10, the seventh to obtain such authorisation, after AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sputnik V, Moderna, Janssen, and Sinopharm’s Vero Cell.
To date, the country has received about 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
35,675,840 doses have been administered, with nearly 7 million people fully vaccinated. — VNS
Read more: https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1036729/viet-nam-to-buy-20-million-doses-of-sinopharms-vero-cell-covid-19-vaccine.html
