Stepanov: negotiations with all COVID-vaccine developers underway since May
Ukraine has been negotiating with all leading COVID-19 vaccine developers since May 2020.
Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov stated this at a briefing.
"Ukraine began negotiations in May last year with all the leading companies that announced about the vaccine at the time and were in the second or early third stage, so we are still negotiating with them," Stepanov said.
According to him, among them was the Sinovac company, with which Ukraine also began negotiations in May; negotiations have intensified since September 2020. Also, Ukraine began cooperating with the COVAX initiative immediately after its launch.
Stepanov urged not to manipulate the supply of coronavirus vaccine to Ukraine.
"This is not the case when it's possible to manipulate and speculate on the health of citizens, on the fear of health and life," Stepanov said.
As reported, a group of pharmaceutical companies Lekhim signed an agreement with the Chinese vaccine manufacturer Sinovac Biotech to supply Ukraine with 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Of these, 1.9 million doses will be delivered within the acquisition of the Ministry of Health.
Ukraine will also receive 8 million doses of coronavirus vaccine under the COVAX global initiative, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people, as the vaccine must be administered twice.
