Myanmar starts India-made COVID jabs, but China vaccine on hold

Yangon puts 1.5m doses from Serum Institute to use as it awaits 300k from Beijing

State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is on hand as medical workers receive shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Naypyitaw on Jan. 27. © Reuters

YUICHI NITTA, Nikkei staff writer

January 27, 2021 17:55 JST

YANGON -- Myanmar began COVID-19 vaccinations on Wednesday, five days after receiving 1.5 million doses from India, whose commitment to the Southeast Asian nation overwhelms China's in terms of volume and timeliness.

At the Yangon General Hospital, vaccinations began for health care workers. Ma Khin Nyo Htway was one of the first to receive a shot. "I have been worried about the new virus," the hospital finance officer said, "but am now happy to have been vaccinated on the first day."