North Macedonia receives second shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX

Skopje, 14 May 2021 – North Macedonia today received 38,400 COVID-19 vaccine doses of Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) through the COVAX Facility, a partnership between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines against COVID-19 globally. 

This second delivery from the COVAX Facility adds to the first shipment of 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, received on 28 March. North Macedonia is expected to continue receiving other shipments of COVID-19 vaccines in the amounts specified by COVAX.   

North Macedonia is part of self-financing countries and economies participating in the COVAX Facility. For these countries, the Facility serves as a critical insurance policy and by pooling resources through the Facility, participating countries and economies are essentially helping to increase the world’s chances of bringing about COVID-19 vaccines.  

This new shipment of COVID-19 vaccines will be used to immunize priority risk groups as defined by the Government in accordance with the national COVID-19 vaccination deployment plan. The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted the lives of all, and immunization is an important step towards recovery and full access to vital services.  

Until vaccination is widespread among the population, basic public health measures remain the basis of the pandemic response. For public health authorities, this means continuing diagnostic testing, contact tracing, isolation, and quality care. And for individuals, it means continuing to practice physical distancing, hand hygiene, the use of masks, adequate ventilation of indoor environments, and avoidance of crowded spaces.