Ukraine has acquired 2 million new COVID-19 vaccine shots provided by the United States government as part of the global program COVAX.
According to the country’s Health Ministry, the batch of Moderna vaccine was delivered overnight into July 18 to the Boryspil airport by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
This is the first time Ukraine has received the vaccine developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna. Approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for immediate use, Moderna requires two shots, 28 days apart, for complete immunization.
According to Health Minister Viktor Lyashko, Ukraine will use Moderna for the vaccination of companies with more than 50 employees and priority workers like the staff of educational institutions, law enforcers and others.
Moderna must be transported frozen between -50 and -15 degrees Celsius. The storage and logistics of mRNA vaccines like Moderna in Ukraine are ensured by the USAID, the U.S. international assistance agency.
The vaccine will be delivered to all of Ukraine’s regions by July 21, Lyashko said.
“Do not hesitate and contact immunization centers and get your protection from the coronavirus disease,” the official said on July 18. “I insist that the best vaccine is the one already injected into your body and working to protect you.”
Since the start of the national immunization campaign in late February, over 4 million vaccine shots have been made in Ukraine.
As of July 18, nearly 1.4 million Ukrainians have got their second jab, completing their immunization from COVID-19.
