Ukraine’s Ministry of Health has signed a contract to receive 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine developed in China, the President’s Office of Ukraine announced on its website.
Ukraine began negotiating to purchase the vaccine in September, before signing an agreement this month with Lekhim, the only official representative of the developer, Sinovac Biotech, China’s largest vaccine producer.
Now, the vaccine will be delivered in the “shortest possible time frame,” the President’s Office said.
“Ukraine will use the Sinovac Biotech vaccine to protect, first and foremost, those citizens who face a critical risk of infection and those who carry out critical functions in the battle with the pandemic,” the President’s office wrote. “The vaccination will be free.”
The contract represents a small, but significant victory in Ukraine’s efforts to acquire coronavirus vaccines.
As vaccination against COVID-19 begins in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Russia and several other countries, Ukraine is still struggling to secure enough vaccines to protect its population from COVID-19, which has already killed over 18,500 Ukrainians in 2020.
Ukraine expects to receive 16,000 doses of a vaccine in the second quarter of 2021 through the international COVAX alliance, which aims to distribute coronavirus vaccines equitably around the world. That will be enough to vaccinate 8 million of Ukraine’s roughly 40 million population.
But the country will still need more doses to achieve herd immunity. Receiving 1.9 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine will allow Ukraine to vaccinate 950,000 more Ukrainians. According to the government, each dose will cost it Hr 504, just under $18.
The Sinovac Biotech vaccine is undergoing stage three clinical trials in Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil. According to the BBC, late stage trials in Turkey showed it to be 91.25% effective. In Brazil, the results are less clear, with researchers saying the vaccine is over 50% effective.
According to the President’s Office, stage III trials in Brazil are ongoing, with results expected on Jan. 7, 2021.
After trials are completed, Ukraine will receive 700 doses of the vaccine within 30 days of its official registration, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov wrote on Facebook.
Ukraine is also continuing negotiations with other producers of reliable coronavirus vaccines, the President’s Office said.
