Over 122,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine delivered to Ukraine via COVAX
According to the report, by the end of the week, overall UNICEF will deliver 473,850 doses of the vaccine, as well as a diluent for injection.
"The arrival of another COVAX batch is another confirmation of the global adherence to equity and accessibility in vaccines sharing amidst pandemic. This collaboration format is critically important. The implementation of the international humanitarian initiatives to tackle COVID-19 reassures us in the capacity of the countries to unite in the face of global threats," Ukraine's Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said.
UNICEF said that the new batch of vaccines was expected to be used for the protection of education workers from COVID-19.
"The importance of education for the well-being of every child cannot be overstated. Safety for teachers is a key factor in ensuring the quality and continuity of learning," said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine.
UNICEF recalled that in total, by the end of 2021, Ukraine is to receive free vaccines for the vaccination of eight million people from COVID as part of the COVAX initiative.
Earlier, under COVAX, Ukraine received 117,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and 367,200 doses of AstraZeneca-SKBio vaccines, manufactured by SK Bioscience, South Korea, as well as about 140,000 syringes for mixing up the vaccine with diluent and injections and over 1,300 safety boxes for their disposal, under COVAX.
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines require special conditions for transportation and storage at temperatures ranging from -60° C to -80° C. In-country storage and logistics of this and the initial shipments of the Pfizer vaccines from COVAX, in accordance with the correct cold chain requirements, are provided by USAID.
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