President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Deputy Minister of Health - Chief Public Health Officer Viktor Lyashko discussed the beginning of vaccination in Ukraine.
Viktor Lyashko informed the President that on February 22 two vaccines against COVID-19 were registered in Ukraine - Pfizer/BioNTech and Covishield.
He noted that the first batch of Covishield vaccine in the amount of 500 thousand doses has already arrived in Ukraine. The drug was delivered from the Boryspil International Airport to the Ukrmedpostach warehouse, and the delivery of the vaccine to the regions will begin on February 24.
Victor Lyashko noted that Covishield vaccine was produced at an Indian plant under the AstraZeneca license. Vaccination with the drug is carried out in two stages.
The President stressed that the logistics of vaccine supply to all regions of Ukraine has already been worked out, and there should be no delays.
The drug will be delivered to the hospitals by mobile teams. First of all, doctors of medical institutions that provide care for COVID-19 patients will be vaccinated, then - employees of somatic hospitals, emergency medical care, family doctors, etc.
"Vaccination should begin as soon as possible, as soon as the regions receive the first batches. But it must be voluntary - no one needs to be forced, it is better to inform people in detail about the proper quality of the drug," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
Viktor Lyashko said that many medical professionals have already recovered from COVID-19, gaining immunity for the coming months.
As the Chief Public Health Officer specified, the second stage provides for the vaccination of the military.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his readiness to be vaccinated together with the servicemen as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.