Almost UAH 2.5 billion is expected to be allocated under a new project / Photo from UNIAN, by Volodymyr Hontar
Ukraine is negotiating with the World Bank almost UAH 2.5 billion, or US$88.7 million, in a loan for measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure vaccination.
Deputy Health Minister Svitlana Shatalova announced this at an online briefing.
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"Almost UAH 2.5 billion is expected to be allocated under a new project – an emergency response to COVID-19 and vaccination in Ukraine," Shatalova said.
According to her, the respective negotiations have been ongoing between the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors and the Ukrainian government since December 2020.
Shatalova noted that an approved vaccine rollout strategy would be taken take into account as part of preparations under the project. At-risk citizens will get vaccinated first, which will optimize the use of limited resources.
Previous developments
- In February-March 2021, Ukraine expects the delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19.
- Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Health Insurance Mykhailo Radutsky says vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine is to start during the second week of February 2021.
- The first batch of a vaccine via the COVAX Facility will include 8 million doses, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people (two shots per person required). First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients.
- On December 24, 2020, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the COVAX vaccine quota from 8 million to 16 million doses.
- In December 2020, the Health Ministry's COVID-19 response center approved an immunization plan. The goal of the measure plan is to provide at least 50% of the population of Ukraine (20 million people) with vaccines during 2021-2022.
- On December 30, 2020, Ukraine signed a contract with China's Sinovac for the supply of 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
- On January 13, 2021, Minister Stepanov said that his ministry planned to sign contracts in the coming days with new companies that produce the coronavirus vaccine.