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Vaccination in Uzbekistan: All You Wanted to Know but were Afraid to Ask

The vaccination in the country is going to begin in the first half of March 2021, according to the Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing and Public Health Service of Uzbekistan.


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The authorities are planning to vaccinate the main part of the population against coronavirus by the end of this year.

Who and how will be vaccinated?

The following risk groups will be vaccinated first:

  • People aged 65 and above;
  • Health workers;
  • Workers of preschool educational institutions, schools and universities;
  • Officers of law enforcement agencies.
Will vaccination be obligatory?

The authorities of Uzbekistan have declared this will be a voluntary procedure.

How much will it cost?

As of today, the vaccine will be free of charge for citizens who need social protection, the elderly people, and the people in the vulnerable group.

The cost of the vaccine to other citizens of Uzbekistan remains to be seen.

Which vaccine will be used in Uzbekistan?
C

Currently, the Advanced Technology Centre of the Ministry of Innovative Development and Institute of Virology of the republican ministry of health are carrying out the 3rd phase of clinical trials of the ZF2001 recombinant vaccine of the Chinese Anhui Zhifei Loncom Biofharmaceutical.

Is it true that Uzbekistan is the co-author of this vaccine?

According to the national news agency of Uzbekistan (https://www.uza.uz/uz/posts/respublika-maxsus-komissiyasining-axboroti_242302), this is true. Anhui Zhifei Longcom recognised Uzbekistan as co-author of this vaccine “based on the contribution and efforts of the republic.”

The new vaccine will be produced and used jointly under the name of ZF-UZ-VAC 2001.

What does this co-authorship mean for Uzbekistan?
C

The Chinese party promises to supply the vaccine to Uzbekistan at preferential prices and in a sufficient quantity. In addition, the vaccine will be commoditised in the country under the name of ZF-UZ-2001.

See alsoWhat Should Kazakhstan Citizens Know About the Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination?

Why is Uzbekistan sure that the Chinese vaccine is safe?
C

This is what the responsible person for clinical trials in Uzbekistan Ding Fan of Anhui Zhifei Loncom Biofharmaceutical has said. He said “the vaccine is safe and potent” on the air of the republican channel Uzbekistan24.

Ding Fan has referred to clinical trials held with volunteers. As of February 16, 2020, the number of Uzbekistanis who came to the screening was 14,326. Among them, 6,823 volunteers received the first dose, 2,556 ­received the second dose and 6 volunteers received the third dose of the ZF2001 vaccine.

According to preliminary data, only 5 persons of all recipients of the Chinese coronavirus vaccine have developed side effects in the form of allergic response, high temperature, headache.

See also: What About Covid-19 Vaccination in Kyrgyzstan? Here’s the Explanation

In other words, will the citizens of Uzbekistan take only a Chinese vaccine?

No. Uzbekistan has approved the use of Sputnik V vaccine. Currently, they are taking measures to purchase 1 million doses of the Russian vaccine.

In addition, as Uzbekistan is the member of the COVAX (global vaccine alliance), the republic will import 100 thousand doses of the vaccine made by the American Pfizer and German BioNTech.

Moreover, the talks with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) regarding the free of charge supply of more than 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine (Oxford, UK) are about to end. The first batch of 800 thousand doses is expected in March.

See also: Coronavirus Vaccine: When Will Tajikistan Begin Vaccination?

They say Pfizer requires special storage conditions. Can Uzbekistan provide such conditions?

Yes, the vaccine must be stored at the temperature -70 ℃. It is known that the republic will receive 17 high-capacity refrigerators and 206 minivans in the framework of international cooperation, which will be sent to the regions, as well. 

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