Today Moldova received the 24,570 doses of BioNTech- Pfizer anti-COVID-19 vaccine, shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO. The delivery is the second arrival in Moldova, IPN reports, quoting a press release of UNICEF Moldova. The first lot consisted of 14,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Igor Pokanevych, WHO Representative to the Republic of Moldova, said the delivery of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines through the COVAX Initiative to the Republic of Moldova is the first for this vaccine in the WHO European Region. “We are very grateful that the exceptional first round distribution of this vaccine has arrived in the country. Building on the principles of fairness, transparency and equity, which have guided the vaccine allocation process, we are confident that this new batch of vaccines will have a maximum public health impact by further enabling the country to protect its health workers and others at high risk,” stated Igor Pokanevych.

“The BioNTech-Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 Celsius. Health care providers will need to store it in specialized freezers. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with support from Gavi, UNICEF has been upgrading the existing cold chain equipment to ensure that vaccines remain safe and effective throughout their journey,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova.

On the occasion of the delivery, Peter Michalko, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova said the European Union and its Member States have shown their continued support, in Team Europe spirit, for the delivery of much needed vaccines to the Republic of Moldova. “The COVAX platform, to which the EU and entire TeamEurope are the largest contributors, continues vaccine deliveries, as we see with this new delivery again today. This lot will allow to vaccinate more persons and save more lives. Access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines is key in ending the pandemic,” noted Peter Michalko.

Within the support of the COVAX platform, Moldova will also receive further support worth approximately $90K for the purchase of refrigerators.

Romania shipped the first donation of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to Moldova on 27 February, allowing Moldova to start vaccinating frontline medical workers on 2 March. Moldova is the first country in Europe to have received 14,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility on 4 March. Recently, the Government announced that the United Arab Emirates donated 2,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Moldova.