UNICEF delivers another 705,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine under COVAX

Today a new batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Ukraine. 705,600 doses were delivered by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as part of the COVAX Facility.

This batch is meant for vaccination with the second dose of those who received the first shot of CoviShield / AstraZeneca. In particular, healthcare professionals and employees of health care facilities, participants of the Joint Forces Operation in Eastern Ukraine, social workers, clergy, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, people aged 65+. A second dose of vaccine will also be given to people who have been vaccinated with residual doses, public figures.

This is the fourth delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine under COVAX, a global initiative that brings together governments, global health organisations, manufacturers, scientists, private sector, civil society and philanthropy to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries.

Together with the governments of the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, and other donors, UNICEF is working to ensure that more people in Ukraine receive protection from COVID-19. Deliveries of vaccines from various manufacturers under COVAX will continue, and it is expected that by the end of 2021 this will allow to cover up to 20% of the population of Ukraine - 8 million people.

On behalf of COVAX, UNICEF procures and supplies only COVID-19 vaccines that meet WHO safety and efficacy criteria. Under COVAX, Ukraine receives these vaccines free of charge.

“We are pleased that more people in Ukraine are being protected from such a deadly infection as COVID-19. We also welcome the opening of large COVID vaccination centers in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, and hope this will enable people to get their vaccinations quickly and safely. Vaccination helps to save lives, avoid hospitalization and the need for oxygen support, also bringing us closer to the time when we will all be able to return to normal life. As soon as you have the opportunity to receive your COVID vaccination, please do so,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine.

"Everyone, who got their first dose of AstraZeneca, is guaranteed to receive the second dose through this shipment. We are grateful to our international partners for this support and collaboration.  Together, we are able to protect more citizens from a coronavirus disease”, underlined the Minister of Health of Ukraine, Viktor Lyashko.

Dr Jarno Habicht, the WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, said: “Today we are welcome arrival of another batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, which was provided through COVAX facility to protect the most vulnerable to be fully vaccinated with the second dose according to the National Deployment Vaccination Plan. It is quite important to keep the COVID-19 vaccination priority for those who are at high risk of getting severely ill or dying from COVID-19, such as employees of health care facilities, older adults, and social workers. We are thankful to the unprecedented efforts of all COVAX partners, governments, who focused on reducing the equity gap in COVID-19 vaccine. Moreover, we thank the global community supporting additional specific programs on COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Ukraine, national vaccination teams and international partners, who make it possible ".

Earlier, under COVAX, Ukraine received 590,850 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 367,200 doses of AstraZeneca.

COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with UNICEF as key implementing partner, as well as civil society organisations, vaccine manufacturers, governments of US, UK, European Union, World Bank, and others.