The organization of population’s vaccination is a national priority in the control of infection with COVID-19 and we must make sure that the vaccine not only comes to a particular country, but is also stored and used correctly and there is demand for it and the risk groups get shots the first. “The vaccine is on the way to countries and we should get readdy for immunization,"Oleg Benes, senior specialist of the vaccination departament at the World Healt Odganization Regional Office for Europe, stated in a news conference, being quoted by IPN.
To make the vaccine accessible to all the countries, the WHO is taking part in the COVAX initiative. Led by the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) together with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO, the COVAX mechanism aims to accelerate the creation and production of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee just and equitable access for each country.
Moldova forms part of the countries that will have access to vaccines for 20% of the population free of charge. A week ago, COVAX informed the countries of the region that the first doses of vaccine will become available the next few weeks or at the start of February. Now the countries are working intensely to get the vaccine and use it as efficiently as possible, primarily for healthcare workers, stated the WHO specialist.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said the vaccine is a global benefit that should be ultimately accessible to all. But it was clear from the beginning that the population will have access to fewer vaccines than necessary. Over 45 countries started mass vaccination. “It is important to have mechanisms for efficiently monitoring the safety of the vaccine. Many countries in the region are ready to help, but this is a matter of time,” stated Hans Kluge.
Recently, Tatiana Zatyk, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, said the health system is ready to start the vaccination against COVID-19 and to use the quantities of vaccines the country will get, regardless of the producer and type of shots.
