Stepanov: We must create a vaccine production

In Ukraine, three manufacturers have the capacity to mass-produce vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and measles, the minister said.

The Ministry of Health is working on vaccine production at the facilities of domestic manufacturers, department head Maxim Stepanov said on Thursday, October 15.

According to him, manufacturers are prepared for this – there are suitable capacities and specialists.

“We must create our own vaccine production. Our country must have its full supply of vaccines. This is not a quick way. This cannot be done in six months, but our manufacturers are ready to start this. At least three manufacturers with the that we speak, that they have. I mean those vaccines that we use all the time: against diphtheria, tetanus, measles. This is a matter of our biosecurity “, said the minister.

He admitted that in a first stage, the production of his own vaccines will be more expensive than imported ones.

Stepanov also recalled that Ukraine has joined the global COVAX initiative, which has created an alliance for access to the coronavirus vaccine.

“They confirmed to us that when the coronavirus vaccine appears, we will be able to count on 8,000,000 doses in this initiative. In parallel, the Ministry of Health is also negotiating with global companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovac,” said Stepanov.

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