China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Laos

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The shipment of 300,000 China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, early on Monday.

A cargo plane carrying the vaccines produced by Chinese pharmaceutic company Sinopharm arrived at the Wattay International Airport at around 1:00 a.m. local time.

Lao Minister of Health Bounkong Syhavongreceived the shipment at the airport and expressed gratitude for the support from the Chinese government and Chinese people who have helped the country in the combat against the coronavirus.

Syhavong backed up Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine, saying it's high quality and efficiency will help protect Lao frontline health workers and public officers.

"Chinese vaccines have been proved for its safety and reliability. The Lao people are thus keenly looking forward to the vaccination," said Syhavong.

The Southeast Asian country has already started to inoculate 600 frontline medical workers, according to the Laotian Times report. Earlier, they had received 2,000 doses from China and also Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.

With a population of about seven million people, the country has reported only 45 cases of the coronavirus and no fatalities.

Last year international organizations praised Laos' early response and countrywide networks for containing the coronavirus after the country declared itself virus-free in June.