The first stage of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign t is set to begin in Moldova in the middle of February. The frontline healthcare workers struggling with the pandemic will be immunized the first. Secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection Tatiana Zatyk said that 70% of the country’s population needs to be vaccinated for stopping the spread of the virus, IPN reports.
COVAX/GAVI will allocate 24,570 doses of BioNTech- Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and up to 264,000 indicative doses of AstraZeneca / SKBio COVID-19 vaccine to the Republic of Moldova. The vaccines will be distributed to all the national health facilities for immunizing doctors and medical personnel.
“The vaccine storage conditions are strict and the process thus needs to be organized rigorously. We will have to be very disciplined, as in the army,” Tatiana Zatyk stated in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
Doctors expect the start of the vaccination process will lead to a decline in the number of deaths from COVID-19 and will contribute to overcoming the health and economic crisis.
“The number of serious complications and lethal cases will decrease. The treatment of persons with COVID-19 is very costly for the state. The cost price of the treatment of a patient in intensive care rises to 300,000 lei. The vaccination of the population will help to reduce the disability of persons who had serious forms of the infection and to return to normality,” said doctor habilitate in medicine Victor Cojocaru.
Tatiana Zatyk noted the persons who got cured of OVID-19 are eligible to be vaccinated and the immunization campaign will become annual.
“According to WHO data, a person who had COVID 19 has antibodies during three-six months. The vaccine ensures antibodies for a period of at least one year. We will have annual vaccination campaigns as in the case of seasonal influence. The Ministry’s objective is to vaccinate 70% of the population so as to contain the pandemic,” stated the functionary.
In Moldova, the COVID-19 vaccine is free. Under the national immunization plan, the population will be vaccinated in three stages. The healthcare workers and beneficiaries of social assistance will be immunized at the first stage, the persons older than 60 and with comorbidies at the second stage, while the general population, regardless of age, at the third stage.
