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The Netherlands will send 160,000 vaccines to Suriname next week. Dutch Minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Health) announced this on Sunday.
These are doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The mission is made at the request of his minister Amar Ramadhin.
The situation in Suriname is serious: the pressure on the hospitals is high and the need for vaccines among the population is great. Earlier this month, the Netherlands therefore sent 90,000 vaccines, oxygen containers, respirators, personal protective equipment and a medical team to Suriname. All of this is part of a comprehensive support package to help in the acute fight against the Coronavirus.
The second shipment of 60,000 AstraZeneca vaccines will be shipped on Wednesday, June 23. Another 100,000 doses will follow on Sunday, June 27. Because Suriname is currently already injecting the AstraZeneca vaccine, the upcoming deliveries can immediately be fitted into the current vaccination program. The donation will not delay the Dutch vaccination program.
Minister De Jonge (VWS) has promised to eventually donate 500,000 to 750,000 vaccines to Suriname, depending on the deliveries to the Netherlands and the need in Suriname.
