Ukraine is negotiating with all vaccine producers, except Russia / REUTERS
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says Ukraine is negotiating with all vaccine producers, except Russia. Regarding the sources of vaccines, there are two levels: we are negotiating at the level of heads of state, as well as negotiating with all vaccine producers, except Russia, he said during a Q&A session at the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine s parliament, on December 18, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Of course, today with all international producers with licensed vaccines that have already passed three levels of certification and have the appropriate permits and licenses – the health minister is negotiating with all those producers at the level of the companies top management, Shmyhal said.
Health Ministry expects first vaccines from COVAX in March 2021 / REUTERS
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said Ukraine expects to get the first doses of vaccines approved by COVAX, the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, in March 2021. After the creation of COVAX [a global initiative created on the platform of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) to accelerate the development, production and ensure equal access to tests, treatment and vaccines against COVID-19], Ukraine immediately joined this initiative to get the proper number of vaccine [doses], he said this during an online briefing on Thursday, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
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At the moment, Ukraine s capacities allow storing about a million doses at the required ultra-low temperatures, the minister says.
REUTERS
Ukraine may receive the first batch of the vaccine against the novel coronavirus as early as February 2021, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov expects. We very much hope we will receive the first vaccines in the first quarter of next year. Now we are trying to do everything so that the first doses came in Ukraine in February, the minister explained, according to Radio NV.
Stepanov says the Ministry of Health has already negotiated a vaccine storage strategy. Some of them must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of -80°C, that s at the country s industrial plants with the relevant refrigeration capacity, the minister added.