Laos steps closer to meeting target of vaccinating 50% of population

VIENTIANE, Sept 3 (Xinhua): More than 4 million people have now had either one or two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, taking Laos a step closer to meeting the target to vaccinate 50 per cent of the adult population by the end of 2021.

As of Tuesday, nationwide 2,474,767 people had received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 1,804,017 people had been given two doses, according to the latest report by Center of Information and Education for Health under the Lao Ministry of Health.

The Lao Ministry of Health is planning to vaccinate 50 per cent of the country's 7.2 million population by the end of 2021.

The National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Thursday reported 129 imported cases and 41 locally transmitted cases.

As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Laos has reached 15,459 with 14 deaths.

On Friday (Sept 3). Meanwhile, a man in Salavanh Province has become the country’s fifteenth death as a result of Covid-19.

The 45-year-old from Namek Village, Khongsedon District, Salavanh Province, had returned to Laos from work in Thailand on 14 August.

He was placed in a state quarantine center in Salavanh where he first tested negative for Covid-19.

The man suffered from obesity, however, doctors were unsure if he had also suffered from any other underlying conditions.

He passed away on the morning of Sept 3 and a second test produced a positive result for Covid-19.

A total of 10,128 Covid-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

Laos reported its first two confirmed Covid-19 cases on March 24 last year. - Xinhua