Kazakhstan’s authorities plan to start inoculating citizens with Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on February 1, Health Minister Alexei Tsoi said at a government meeting on Tuesday.
"On January 19, it is planned to sign an agreement between Karaganda Pharmaceutical Complex and the Russian Direct Investment Fund for the supply of the first batch - 20,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. On January 20, it is planned to issue a one-time import permit, and the ministry will send letters to SK-Pharmacy Company for procurement under a special order. In the future, starting from February 1, plans are in store to start vaccination against coronavirus of the appropriate age groups," TASS cited him as saying.
According to Tsoi, vaccination will be carried out in stages, taking into account the supply of the vaccine. At the first stage, it is planned to inoculate doctors of infectious diseases hospitals, emergency medical services, intensive care units, hospital reception rooms and employees of sanitary and epidemiological services. School teachers and university lecturers will be vaccinated at the second stage. Later on, vaccination is expected to cover people with chronic diseases and some other groups. Plans are in store to vaccinate up to 6 million people in Kazakhstan by the end of the year.
The production of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was launched in Karaganda in late December 2020. It is planned to manufacture two million vaccine doses in stages. Work is in progress to launch mass production of Kazakhstan’s QazCOVID-in vaccine in March.
