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Vaccine for coronavirus. Photo from the site pixabay
In recent days, the leaders of Ukraine have provided more and more information on the procurement of covid vaccines.
The authorities make statements about the dates of receipt of the vaccine, its cost, and ways to obtain it. Everyone negotiates and reports on the results.
The information of the officials is different. In this sense, many do not fully understand whether they have agreed to a vaccine or not.
Strana collected all the vaccine procurement requests and analyzed them.
Way one: free through WHO
Now in different countries reaching the end of vaccine trials. First of all, we are talking about the United States, Germany and Russia.
In this sense, the excitement began: who to buy from, how to queue, whether they will sell or not.
Ukraine is not the only country concerned about this issue. Therefore, how to fix it, the World Health Organization (WHO) came up with.
In 2020, the COVAX mechanism was created. It is financed in two ways: by developed member countries and through donations. They are thrown into a common piggy bank. Then, when vaccines are registered, they will be distributed in proportion to the population of the countries, regardless of the level of wealth.
In other words, the rich will pay for the poor part of the vaccine. And the rest, if you wish, can be purchased at your expense based on your agreements. Ukraine joined COVAX and was assigned to the second group (low income; part of the injections must be given free of charge).
Chief Medical Officer Viktor Lyashko reported on the interaction with COVAX. According to him, within the framework of the described scheme, the doses will be allocated to Ukraine free of charge – one unit per 20% of the population.
The official population of the country is 39 million. For convenience of calculation, the authorities round to 40 million. Consequently, according to Lyashko, COVAX will provide Ukraine with 8 million ampoules. For the course of immunization, a person needs two injections. Thus, in this way it will be possible to vaccinate 4 million Ukrainians, 10% of the population.
These 4 million doses will not be administered at one time, but in installments. Lyashko refers to the beginning of the process already in the first half of next year.
Prime Minister Denis Shmygal also suggests that the start of the proceedings may be in the spring-summer of 2020. It is impossible to confirm or deny this information. As of today, the WHO has not yet recommended any vaccines, and most are not registered at all (except for the Russian “Sputnik”).
It can only be assumed that the head of government is starting from the preliminary date, which is called in the EU countries and in the WHO itself.
What vaccine is COVAX talking about? Today there are three: American Moderna, American-German Pfizer and BioNTech, Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca.
Why these particular vaccines? Since of the COVAX member countries only their vaccines are in the third final phase of trials. Russia refused to participate in the mechanism.
Therefore, in the framework of COVAX, in the future Ukraine will receive vaccines for 4 million citizens from the three manufacturers listed above free of charge. So far, this is the only fact that can be declared as a specific agreement, and only from the words of the Ukrainian authorities. The WHO does not comment on these Kiev promises.
Way two: acquisitions
The most optimal way to buy a vaccine is through the same WHO mechanism, where, according to health doctor Lyashko, they will operate discounted prices: seven dollars per vial (for vaccination, we remember, you need to buy two: that is, $ 14 per course).
Everything else is in limbo, as the buyer country must also negotiate with manufacturing companies.
Such attempts have been going on since October. During a visit to London, Vladimir Zelensky asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson for access to the British vaccine. On November 10, the president expressed a similar request to Angela Merkel. Also, according to Shmygal and Lyashko, Ukraine is negotiating with all potential producers (except Russia).
However, no mention is made of the fact that someone even verbally promised Kiev access to purchase the vaccine. At the same time, the main players actively contract commercial supplies, for example the European Union with its huge market.
However, the Ukrainian officials in charge of the process are trying to show that all is well with the vaccine. And there is money to buy it.
November 11th Doctor Lyashko noted that Ukraine’s budget for 2021 (adopted in the first reading) provides for the vaccine against covid 1 billion hryvnia.
November 18th Viktor Lyashko has already mentioned another amount they are willing to spend on the vaccine: 2.6 billion hryvnia.
“In addition, between the first and second reading, we must calculate: these 2.6 billion hryvnia, which are now committed for the purchase of vaccines, are sufficient or not,” said the medical director.
November 19th Lyashko makes a new statement: Kiev is ready to buy doses for about 20 million Ukrainians.
“Not a single manufacturer has declared prices. Today we are saying that 20%, that is, 4 million doses, this … for 10% of the population, the country will receive them for free. Then we will buy vaccines to cover 20 million of our population, “he explained. …
20 million is half the population of the country. But, of course, they cannot be vaccinated in the amount indicated by Lyashko.
So if we take the declared 2.6 billion from the budget, it will take 130 hryvnias per person, which is just over four dollars. While the vaccine, even by the COVAX mechanism, costs three times more. And for free sale, according to the data available today, and even more. The Pfizer vaccine will cost at least $ 19 for two vials, while Moderna will cost $ 65-70.
Ukraine will most likely buy the most affordable Pfizer, especially since Health Minister Maxim Stepanov already announced that there are refrigerators to store it.
That is, the funds allocated in the budget will be enough for 5-6 million people. In addition, another four million will be vaccinated through the free COVAX program. Total: 10 million people or 25% of the population of Ukraine.
But again, this is just an estimate, based on the words of the officials. Meanwhile, it is clear that on many issues there is no understanding: how much does a vaccine cost, how much money to spend on it.
Where else can I get vaccinated?
However, such uncertainty is not only a problem for the Ukrainian authorities. Many countries that do not produce the vaccine themselves are now actively joining the race to buy it. And they themselves don’t know how much they will eventually be able to buy.
The difference in approaches with Ukraine is that other states lay eggs in different baskets.
To date, only one vaccine has passed state registration in the world – the Russian one. She was the first to submit a patent application to the WHO. As soon as the organization verifies and recommends it, Russia will start the massive sales. Or even before.
But already in the tail of “Sputnik V” there are countries that, like Ukraine, are registered in COVAX.
Furthermore, this is being done within the framework of bilateral relations with Russia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a vaccine at the Kremlin. A little earlier, Hungary, and yesterday the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country already reported on the arrival of the first batch.
Ukraine, on the other hand, politicized this issue and refused (even under pressure from the United States) the Russian drug. At the same time, it continues to rely on Western partners and negotiations, where no guarantees or dates are given.
Therefore, it is still uncertain when Ukrainians will begin to be vaccinated.
