The European Union in partnership with the WHO Regional Office for Europe lunched a new project to support local readiness for safe and effective vaccination of the population in Moldova against COVID-19. The project, funded by the EU and implemented by the WHO, will cover all the stages – from the delivery of the vaccines to their administration, being a major investment in strengthening the national immunization system, IPN reports.
The three-year project forms part of a new regional program worth over €40 million to provide critical assistance to ensure local readiness and preparedness for safe and effective vaccination of the population in each of the six Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
The Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova Peter Michalko said that in the spirit of the European solidity, the EU assists Moldova in the process of preparing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccines. “An organized vaccination process will save lives, representing a long-term response to the pandemic. The European Union shows once again that it is close to the Moldovan people with concrete and impactful support,” stated the official, being quoted in a press release.
“The Republic of Moldova made considerable efforts to obtain swiftly COVID-19 vaccines and to immunize the population so that we are protected from this virus that claimed thousands of human lives. Throughout this process, we enjoyed considerable support from such partners as the EU and the WHO and we are glad that this support is continuous,” said the secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection Tatiana Zatyk.
Igor Pokanevych, WHO Representative and head of the WHO Country Office in Moldova, said the vaccines offer hope and projection to frontline workers fighting the pandemic and to those from risk groups who are not aware of the devastating impact of COVID-19.
The program includes risk communication and community engagement, support to vaccine supply chain management, vaccination data and safety monitoring, training of health managers and medical staff involved in the vaccination campaign.
The program is part of the Team Europe initiative, and builds on the joint ongoing European Union and WHO Solidarity for Health Initiative in the Eastern Partnership. This Health Initiative of over €35 million has already provided substantial medical supplies across the region.
Also, the EU works to support the launch of the vaccination campaign in Moldova in February, together with other international partners. The first vaccines to Moldova are to be delivered through COVAX. Team Europe has contributed more than €850 million for COVAX, including €500 million from the EU budget, being a key contributor.
