By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) - The UN has dispatched over four million vaccines to North Korea, targeting approximately 600,000 children and expecting mothers.
The first of three vaccine shipments arrived at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on Thursday, according to a statement from the UN children's fund.
The delivery -- coordinated by UNICEF, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), and the World Health Organization -- aims to address gaps in immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vaccines, including Measles-Rubella, Tetanus-Diphtheria, Bacille Calmette-Guerin, Hepatitis B, and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine, were transported to Pyongyang on chartered flights over recent days.
Starting in September, the vaccines will be administered nationwide in a catch-up campaign focused on children and pregnant women who missed essential vaccinations since 2021.
This initiative also includes babies born this year.
UNICEF’s North Korea acting representative Roland Kupka hailed the arrival of the vaccines as "a significant milestone towards safeguarding children's health and survival in this country,”
The pandemic had significantly reduced vaccination coverage in North Korea.