Kyiv Post producer Elina Kent sits down with staff writer Anna Myroniuk to answers the most vital questions about Ukraine’s nationwide vaccination.
Full transcript below:
Welcome to the Kyiv Post Podcast, where you can tune in to stories that give you a deeper understanding of Ukraine.
I’m your host Elina Kent. I’m a multimedia producer and lifestyle journalist here at the Kyiv Post. And this week we are discussing the long awaited vaccines against the coronavirus.
It has been almost one month since the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and other countries started vaccinating their populations against the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is at a standstill, expecting to receive the first batch of vaccines in February at the earliest.
Ukrainian authorities plan to first vaccinate high-risk groups who comprise half of its population, or 21 million people. To meet this goal, the country needs 42 million doses — two shots for each person.
Right now, it’s not clear how that will be done. Two main obstacles are money and the slow pace of negotiations.
This week we have our staff writer Anna Myroniuk with us to explain the most up-to-date news on the vaccines.
Anna: Ukraine’s government has negotiated the supply of only 9.9 million doses for the time being, enough to vaccinate 5 million people. The country has allocated funds to buy roughly 5.2 million more doses in 2021. The World Bank is expected to give Ukraine money for about 5 million doses more.
This will allow Ukraine to vaccinate 10 million of its 21 million citizens considered to be in the high-risk group. The high-risk group includes both those with underlying conditions and essential workers, like doctors and police officers.
Has the government been successful in clearly communicating what they are doing to get Ukrainians vaccinated?
A: Well no, The government wasn’t sharing much information. The Ministry of Health turned down the Kyiv Post’s request for comment, saying negotiations on vaccine supply are strictly confidential and no additional details can be disclosed.
Where is Ukraine getting the vaccine from?
A: At least 1.9 million doses will come from China. On Dec. 30, 2020, the Ministry of Health announced that it signed a $34.5 million contract with Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech for the supply of vaccines.
Ukraine will also get 8 million doses for free from the global coronavirus vaccine alliance, COVAX.
E: However, a portion of it — 210,000 out of the promised 8 million doses — will be Pfizer-produced vaccine, according to several lawmakers who cited the words of Health Minister Maksym Stepanov at a closed-door meeting on Jan. 16.
So is the Chinese vaccine that Ukraine’s buying any good?
A: It’s fine, but less effective than the leading vaccines.
Sinovac Biotech’s vaccine is deactivated. It works by exposing the immune system to dead viral particles without risking a serious infection.
Its efficacy is questionable, ranging from 91.25% to 65.3% in trials in Turkey and Indonesia, respectively. In Brazil, researchers estimated its effectiveness at 78% in “mild to severe” cases.
On Jan. 11, Brazilian researchers said that the effectiveness of Sinovac Biotech’s vaccine is just 50.4%. The new figure included infections that were mild or asymptomatic.
Ukraine will likely start vaccinating its population in February.
The first batch of Sinovac Biotech’s vaccine, 700,000 doses, is expected to arrive in February, according to the Ministry of Health.
Ukraine expects to get the first portion of the vaccine coming from COVAX, 210,000 doses, in early February, according to Stepanov.
Doctors who treat COVID-19 patients will get the first shots. At the same time, the vaccine will go to soldiers in the Donbas, social workers and employees and residents of homes for the elderly.
E: The second group in line includes Ukrainians who turned 60 and have medical conditions, employees of educational facilities and the staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine: The National Police, Armed Forces and other institutions that ensure the state security.
The second phase of vaccination is expected to start in late March and will cover 2.5 million people, Stepanov said at a closed-door meeting with lawmakers.
The third stage includes people between the ages of 18 and 59, who have medical conditions and professionals most exposed to coronavirus.
Can the Ukrainian government afford to vaccinate everyone in Ukraine?
No. The government currently doesn’t have the money to vaccinate the 21 million in the risk group.
In December 2020, the government allocated $46 million for vaccine purchase.
That way, Ukraine will be able to vaccinate 10 million out of the target 21 million people.
And the vaccine will be available commercially in Ukraine.
Yes.
Apart from the limited amount of free vaccines provided by the state, Ukrainians will have the option to buy vaccines for themselves independently.
It will become available by summer, according to Stepanov.
E: It’s good that we are finally receiving the long awaited vaccine. But if Ukraine does not quickly vaccinate enough people, it could lead to at least 100,000 more Ukrainians dying from coronavirus according to Semen Yesylevskyy, biophysicist and leading researcher at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
And a new crop of fast-spreading variants of Covid-19 is moving through populations around the world. The rapid rise of at least 3 mutated viruses might lead to an increase in transmissibility, speeding the virus’ spread from one host to the next.
Ukraine has just come out of it’s most recent soft lockdown. And Health minister Stepanov announced he has no plans on implementing another lockdown in the spring. So people must continue to be careful as winter thaws and warmer weather arrives. We must continue to wear masks in public, wash our hands often, and practice social distance. Staying home saves lives.
Thank you for listening to the Kyiv Post’s first podcast of the year. You can subscribe to our podcasts on all streaming platforms and follow along on our website. I’m your host Elina Kent. Please stay safe, stay home, and subscribe to the Kyiv Post.
