Armenia introduces age restrictions for AstraZeneca, Sputnik-V vaccines

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia will use AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate people aged above 55, while folks under that age will get Sputnik-V shots, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan told reporters on Monday, April 12.

There are no age restrictions for the Russian jab, Avanesyan said, but given that a limited amount of the vaccine has been delivered to Armenia so far, authorities have made the decision to use it for health workers, persons with chronic conditions and residents and employees of social care centers, aged 18-54.

The decision will be revised over time, specifically after the country imports more shots, the Minister said. According to her, Armenia is planning to vaccinate 700,000 people – almost 25% of the population – against the coronavirus.

The vaccination program is set begin in the capital Yerevan from April 13 and expand to the country's provinces the next day, Avanesyan added.

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Armenia grew by 510 to reach 203,327 on Monday morning. So far, 182,836 people have recovered, 3753 have died from the coronavirus in the country, while 953 others carrying the virus have died from other causes.