Ukraine receives 2.3 mln doses of Covid-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech as part of COVAX initiative

MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Ukraine has received 2.3 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which was produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and provided by the United States government as part of the COVAX global initiative.

Ukrainian media reported citing the Health Ministry's website that upon delivery of this batch, the total number of vaccines provided to Ukraine via the COVAX facility since the outbreak of the pandemic will reach 6.4 million doses.

The vaccine is intended for both the primary vaccination course and the booster shots (the first and then the second one).

According to the Health Ministry, the vaccine will be distributed in 23 Ukrainian regions. In particular, more than 31,000 doses will be delivered to Kiev, over 29,000 doses to the Lvov region, over 23,000 doses to the Poltava region, and 20,000 doses each to the Kharkov, Odessa and Kiev regions.

"In late October and in early November, more than 332,000 doses of this vaccine will be supplied to the regions," the ministry said.

The second booster shot in Ukraine could be given to all persons aged over 18. It is especially important that a booster vaccine shot should be administered to persons at risk, namely, elderly persons, patients with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, bronchial asthma and diabetes. Persons with a weakened immune system could receive up to five doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.