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Bhutan fully vaccinates 90 per cent of its population in a week

As per Bhutan's health ministry, the vaccines that were received through donations were used in this vaccination drive. 

Bhutan fully vaccinates 90 per cent of its population in a week gcw
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Bhutan, First Published Jul 28, 2021, 12:54 PM IST

Setting up a new record, Bhutan has managed to inoculate 90 per cent of its entire population with both doses of the vaccines in just seven days. As per Bhutan's health ministry, the vaccines that were received through donations were used in this vaccination drive. 

The Himalayan kingdom started the inoculation with the second dose from July 20 and by July 27, 90 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, the health ministry reported.

Praising the nation for the rapid vaccination rate, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) called it a "great success story". 
“We need a world in which the countries which have surplus vaccines really do donate to those countries that haven’t received (shots) so far,” said Will Parks, UNICEF's Bhutan representative.

Bhutan had quickly used up the 550,000 AstraZeneca jabs donated by India back in March and early April for the first vaccine shots to its citizens. However, due to a subsequent surge in Covid-19 infections in India, the exports were halted, which eventually led to a growing time gap between the first and the second doses.

Later, Bhutan appealed for donations, following which around half a million Moderna doses arrived from the USA, followed by 250,000 AstraZeneca shits from Denmark in mid-July. China, Croatia and other nations also came forward to help the kingdom.
 

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