Health Ministry: First dose of COVID-19 vaccine expected to be supplied to Armenia in 2021

To control the coronavirus disease and improve the epidemiological situation in Armenia it is important to acquire vaccine against COVID-19, Armenia’s Ministry of Health said in a statement.

“For this purpose negotiations are being held with all possible sides, in particular with the vaccine producers and international partners. Currently there is a unique opportunity for acquiring COVID-19 vaccines. A single procurement platform has been created coordinated by the international partners through the COVAX FACILITY Foundation. The latter is conducting direct talks with the vaccine producers promoting the acceleration of the process, setting common prices for vaccines, supporting the purchase of vaccines with the guaranteed price and amount for the countries involved in the Foundation.

The Ministry of Health has signed an agreement with the COVAX FACILITY on acquiring vaccine against COVID-19. It is expected to purchase nearly 600,000 doses for nearly 300,000 people in the group of risk, two doses for each one. The total cost of acquiring the vaccine is approximately 6 million 330 thousand USD, the average cost of one dose makes 10.55 USD, which can be reduced as a result of the negotiations.

The Ministry said in the statement that the supply of the first dose of the vaccine is expected in 2021, as soon as possible after the safe and effective vaccines are licensed and a permission for their use.

“We expect that the vaccination against coronavirus in Armenia will promote to the reduction of the disease and prevention of deaths from coronavirus,” the statement said.