Ukraine stops deliveries of AstraZeneca, Moderna coronavirus vaccines, authorizes 2nd booster shot

MOSCOW. Sept 19 (Interfax) - Ukraine has decided to discontinue deliveries of AstraZeneca and Moderna coronavirus vaccines to the country and authorized the second booster shot for all categories of the population, Ukrainian media reported with reference to Ukrainian chief public health official Ihor Kuzin on Monday.

"Three vaccines are currently available in Ukraine, namely CoronaVac, Janssen, and Pfizer's Comirnaty. We have decided to discontinue deliveries of AstraZeneca's and Moderna's vaccines under the COVAX program," Kuzin said at a press briefing on Monday.

There are about 5 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine and some 30,000 one-shot Janssen vaccines in Ukraine now, he said.

Ukraine has seen shortages of Pfizer vaccines due to logistical issues over the past several weeks, Kuzin said. Ukraine had received the last shipment of 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in July, and the shipments were resumed last week with the delivery of another 400,000 doses, which should be distributed among the regions by the end of the week, he said.

In all, 1.8 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine are to be shipped to Ukraine under the COVAX program, he said.

At the present time, Ukraine is receiving Covid-19 vaccines only under the international COVAX program, that is, free of charge, he said.

The Ukrainian Health Ministry has authorized the start of the second booster vaccination campaign in the country, he said.