Stepanov expects to sign contracts for another 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines

"We will contract at least 15 million doses more," Stepanov said at the Cabinet’s meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the minister, Ukraine will be able to receive vaccines by the end of this year. Stepanov said that these supplies would allow to vaccinate the majority of the adult population.

In April-May, Ukraine should receive 4.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

On March 30, 18,668 people had received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Since the start of the vaccination campaign, 231,566 people have been vaccinated, of whom two people completed vaccination (received two doses).

Ukraine started COVID-19 vaccination campaign on February 24, 2021. It will take place in five stages. At the first stage, the medical staff of hospitals designated for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, ambulance crews, staff of laboratories that perform COVID-19 testing, residents and staff of nursing homes and the military at the front will be vaccinated. All vaccinations are voluntary and free of charge.

To date, Ukraine has received 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. This vaccine was approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). Permission to use it was also granted by the United Kingdom, the European Union and India. The vaccine was registered in Ukraine on February 22, 2021.

Moreover, 215,000 doses of CoronaVac vaccine produced by the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech arrived in Ukraine. Sinovac (CoronaVac) must first be tested by the Ministry of Health laboratories. It is also in the final stages of being approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use. The vaccine was registered in Ukraine on March 9, 2021.

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