Armenia will first purchase Sputnik V vaccines, says health official

PanARMENIAN.Net - The first vaccine against coronavirus to be purchased by Armenia will be Russia's Sputnik V, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention Gayane Sahakyan has said, according to Sputnik Armenia.

"At the moment we are in the process of signing an agreement with the Russian side. The vaccines will likely arrive in Armenia within the next week. We are purchasing 15,000 doses, and since two doses are necessary for each individual, we are planning to vaccinate 7,500 people at this stage," Sahakyan said.

According to her, vaccination against the coronavirus has already begun among health workers and the infected. She said Armenia has already received jabs for 1030 people (2060 doses) from the Ministry of Health of Russia as a gift.

Sahakyan also noted that the country is now negotiating the purchase of another vaccine, though details are still under wraps.

It was reported earlier that in the first stage of vaccination, priority will be given to people aged over 65, those who have underlying health conditions and medical workers. In the second stage, teachers, educators, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, military personnel, employees of the justice sector and public transport, as well as civil servants will get Covid-19 shots.