Associate Prof. Angel Kunchev: Refrigerators to be purchased for COVID-19 vaccines



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The Chief of State Health Inspectors, Prof. Angel Kunchev

Currently, the Ministry of Health is making estimates so that the necessary funds will be allocated to the purchase of refrigerators that maintain a temperature of -78 to -80 degrees. They will be used for the storage of two of the new vaccines against COOVID-19, which will be delivered in Bulgaria. This was stated by the Chief of State Health Inspectors, Prof. Angel Kunchev, quoted by BGNES.

The price of a small refrigerator that supports such titles starts from BGN 25,000 – 30,000 and more, and estimates that the department will have to set aside millions for the purchase of the equipment, and how many will have to be taken depends on the size of the box. with 1000 vaccines.

“For vaccines that do not require specific conditions, we have conditions,” Kunchev said, continuing: The Ministry of Health has a central warehouse that meets all the requirements.

“When it comes to two of the vaccines, which require extremely different conditions, -78 to -80 degrees, it involves delivering refrigeration equipment in large quantities in a relatively short time. The Ministry of Health is currently working on that. It is a very difficult task, “he said, adding:” I am afraid that we are going to work with this type of vaccine, as it requires very good logistics. We have only two days from the removal of this cold environment to the application of the people, which means that for this short period, you have to go from the RHI to the general practitioners, they have to make a list, the people are in person and inside be covered and reported in a few hours, which is not an easy task, “added Associate Prof. Kunchev.

He explained that GPs would receive the vaccine and would have to administer it to their patients within the established timeframe.

“In my opinion, the main quantities will come in March-April, the second quarter of 2021,” said Associate Professor Kunchev, clarifying that what is happening now and the request for vaccines to arrive near the end of the year is part of great competition on the commercial and politically charged side, whoever is the first, who will get the largest amounts.

Associate Professor Kunchev clarified that currently none of the vaccines in question have received approval from the European Medicines Agency.

“As soon as one of the vaccines is approved by the European Medicines Agency, I can have an opinion. At the moment, none of them have that permission,” he said.



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