Majesty The King began a Royal Tour of the east, arriving in Mongar yesterday accompanied by Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen and Their Royal Highnesses Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel and Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck. 

This morning, the first COVID-19 vaccination in Mongar Dzongkhag was administered in the presence of His Majesty The King, at Mongar Dzong. In accordance with the astrological recommendations to start inoculations with a 30-year old woman born in the monkey year, Karma Pema Wangmo became the first person to receive the vaccine in the Dzongkhag. 

His Majesty also visited Mongar High School, which is one of the several vaccination centers in the dzongkhag, and met with those administering and receiving the vaccination.

His Majesty said to those gathered that while the vaccine will be beneficial in protecting us during the pandemic, we need to continue to follow safety protocols diligently as a portion of the population, including children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, remain unvaccinated.

His Majesty The King will be in the east for the duration of the nationwide vaccination program. 

As the people of Bhutan pray for the success of the vaccination campaign during this important time, the Royal Visit is doubly significant for being His Royal Highness Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck’s first visit to the east.