Acting PM informs about current prospects for buying vaccines in Moldova

Chisinau, 16 April /MOLDPRES/ - The number of Moldova’s citizens vaccinated with the first dose has reached over 82,000 and 9,476 Moldovans received the second dose, thus being immunized against the new-type coronavirus. Acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi today made statements to this effect after a meeting of the single command centre of the emergency state, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.  
The acting PM made more specifications on the current situation as to the purchasing of anti-COVID-19 vaccines. Presently, the Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry is in process of buying a consignment of 100,000 doses of Corona Vax vaccine, the producer of which is China.  
At the same time, Moldova, through the COVAX platform, benefits from 20 per cent of the necessary amount of vaccines for national immunization and another 30 per cent of the overall quantity needed in the country is provided at a preferential price, i.e. directly from producer. ‘’A decision was taken that, on the COVAX platform, Moldova is to procure over two million doses of available vaccine, as on this platform, we do not choose the vaccine which we want to buy, but take what is available and we are to pay the value of the consignments provided, if we accept them,’’ Aureliu Ciocoi said. He noted that discussions had been started with the Moderna producer to consider possibility to purchase 1.5 million vaccine doses.
Also, discussions are held with the Russian Direct Investment Fund – owner of the Sputnik V vaccine, in order to inform Moldova’s authorities about their conditions for the eventual procurement of 700,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine. Aureliu Ciocoi specified that, for the moment, these acquisitions were not negotiated, but decision-makers analyze which is the most advantageous for Moldova.  
At the same time, two consignments of vaccines will arrive in Moldova on 17 April: a batch of 132,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, generously provided by Romania’s government, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, activated by Moldova in February 2021 and the second consignment of 48,000 AstraZeneca vaccines, provided through the COVAX platform.  
The 100,000 doses of vaccines, already purchased from the Corona Vax producer, as well as a donation earlier promised by China to the country, will arrive in Moldova till late April.  
photo: Government