Monday, March 8, 2021

After Refusing Russia's Covid-19 Vaccine, Ukraine's Vaccination Drive Has Been Delayed By Over A Month

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy receives a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a hospital at an unknown location in eastern Ukraine March 2, 2021. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS 


VILNIUS – The Ukrainian government considers the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V to be part of hybrid war in the country, Ihor Zhovkva, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's adviser on foreign policy issues who visited Vilnius earlier this week, said in an interview with BNS. 

"This is also a part of propaganda, a part of hybrid war – to spread this unchecked vaccine and to say that Russia is always willing to extend its helpful arm in order to treat the world while their aim is the opposite," Zhovkva, who is also deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in the interview. 

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WNU Editor: The decision was made last month .... Ukraine bans Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine (BNE News), despite having no access to vaccines of its own and a mounting death toll. And when a source to get the vaccine was found, shipment delays have become the rule rather than the exception .... Ukraine to fine supplier over late delivery of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines (Reuters). 

On a positive note. Ukraine has started vaccinating its 41 million people after receiving its first batch of 500,000 Indian-made AstraZeneca shots late last month, prioritizing frontline healthcare workers and the military. But this is just a drop in the bucket. 

Update: According to John Hopkins. As of today Ukraine has had 1,455,000 Covid-19 cases, and 29,000 deaths.

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