The national rollout of COVAX-supported vaccines began at Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane on Friday (April 2). Present on the occasion was the Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Thipphakone Chanthavongsa. Vaccinations were administered on April 2 and 3, with the aim of immunising about 4,000 individuals categorised as being at the greatest risk of exposure to Covid-19 and those most likely to develop severe symptoms from infection. After this initial push the vaccines will be administered in seven main hospitals in Vientiane and the provinces. The vaccines were received on March 20 and were provided by the COVAX Facility, a partnership between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).