Health Minister defends Armenia's purchase of AstraZeneca vaccineApril 1, 2021 - 19:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan on Thursday, April 1 defended Armenia's purchase of 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, maintaining that reported side effects linked to the vaccine have not been proved. Avanesyan said the country will use the jabs from AstraZeneca and other manufacturers that have been approved by international agencies as producing effective and safe drugs, the Armenian Service of RFE/RL reports. "A number of countries have temporarily halted [vaccination with AstraZeneca shots], some others have resumed, while many had not abandoned [the program] in the first place," the Health Minister said when asked about the safety of the jabs. The first batch of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine will be used to inoculate people aged over 65, those who have underlying health conditions, medical workers, residents and staff of elderly care centers, as well as social care center employees. The Chief of the Prime Minister's Staff, ex-Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan said earlier that the Armenian government is planning to purchase several hundred thousand doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |