ASEAN member nations, including Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, are actively working to obtain COVID-19 vaccines from different sources.

COVID-19 vaccines (Source: AFP)

Myanmar is negotiating to buy seven million doses of Russia’s Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine after initially planning to buy two million doses, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar said in an interview with Russia’s RIA news agency.

The move aims to tackle a new wave of coronavirus infections in the nation.

Aung Hlaing, who recently returned from a trip to Russia, said his country’s neighbouring India, which had initially supplied the bulk of Myanmar’s vaccines, was unable to provide more doses due to its own outbreak.

According to him, China has also sent Myanmar some vaccines and Myanmar will continue negotiations with China in this regard.

Meanwhile, Malaysia will receive 1 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines donated by Japan on July 1 and another 1 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine donated by the US on July 2.

Japan has also agreed to donate similar amounts of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

Zuellig Pharma, Moderna's supply partner for COVID-19 vaccines in Southeast Asia, has said that regional orders for the mRNA vaccine are almost fully booked for this year, highlighting procurement challenges for countries slow off the mark.

Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand are among those that have sought or signed deals for Moderna or have already begun receiving vaccine batches.

Source: VNA