During an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with the leadership of the Dubai Health Authority. A significant part of the meeting was devoted to the fight against COVID-19.
The Head of State was told about the measures taken in the UAE to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, a significant increase in testing opportunities, security measures in hospitals and schools, vaccination strategies and the availability of vaccinations for the population that will get them free of charge.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the leadership of the Dubai Health Authority on the successful results in counteracting the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted the common approaches in combating the spread of the disease.
The President spoke about the measures taken by Ukraine to counter the pandemic, and noted that our country produces many disinfectants.
"We helped many European countries at the beginning of the pandemic, sent disinfectants. We sent our doctors to Italy," he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine has one of the lowest mortality rates in Europe, but it is impossible to completely overcome the pandemic without the vaccine.
"We are to receive the first vaccines this month and start vaccinations. We signed the first contracts. And we would like to speed up the vaccination period," he said.
The President inquired about the UAE's experience in the storage, transportation and use of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the issue of the Emirates' own production of the vaccine and the possible interest of the Emirati side in cooperating with Ukrainian companies.
The leadership of the Dubai Health Authority invited the representatives of Ukraine to get acquainted with the process of vaccines’ storage and transportation in the UAE.
They also welcomed the initiative of the President of Ukraine on the possibility of joint production of the vaccine by Ukraine and the UAE and expressed willingness to work in this direction.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy commissioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health to establish a joint working group for cooperation and exchange of experience with the Emirati side on issues related to vaccination against COVID-19.
