DUSHANBE, 13.08.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – Currently, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan within previously signed cooperation agreements is negotiating with the Russian Ministry of Health to purchase COVID-19 vaccine doses. This was said by the Deputy Head of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Service Navruz Jafarov.

According to him, negotiations are also being conducted through diplomatic channels.

“The volume of vaccine production in Russia is not yet sufficient for mass sales, since it is planned to produce up to 1.5 million doses per year, while in Russia itself the population is 142 million. According to preliminary estimates, it will take about nine years to vaccinate the population of Russia. In addition to Tajikistan, 26 states are on the waiting list to purchase the vaccine,” Jafarov said.

“Since there is an agreement between Tajikistan and Russia in the field of health care, let’s hope that we will be helped or sold this vaccine,” he noted.

While asking how soon this is expected to happen, Jafarov explained that it is still unknown.

Currently, a working group has been created in the Tajik Health Ministry to prepare a calculation of how much vaccine is needed for the country. First of all, the vaccine will be calculated for those with diabetes, respiratory diseases, medical workers, those engaged in border protection, and only then for the rest of the population.

“While calculating, it will also be necessary to consider that a certain percentage of the population will have contracted  COVID-19 and as a result will not not need the vaccine. As a rule, antibodies are active for about two years,” Jafarov explained.

Meanwhile, according to the Health Ministry, the incidence rate is stable in Tajikistan. More than 40 people are infected with the coronavirus each day. The number of those infected since the beginning of May is 7912 people, out which is 63 have died.

The Russian vaccine against COVID-19 was registered on August 11. Its mass production will begin soon, and vaccination of Russian citizens at risk will start in October.