Ulaanbaatar [Mongolia welcomes first batch of COVID-19 vaccines via COVAX Facility]

June 15, 2021

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On March 12, Mongolia received 14,400 doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

This delivery is part of a first wave of arrivals that will continue in the coming days and weeks. UNICEF and WHO have been technically, financially and logistically supporting the Government of Mongolia to prepare for the COVID-19 immunization campaign.

“In the battle against this global pandemic, countries around the world have launched the rollout of COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccination campaign in Mongolia started on 23 February 2021 and is accelerating further. We are happy to welcome the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility. Vaccines provided by the COVAX Facility will help to immunize up to 20% of the population. It is a valuable contribution to reach the national vaccination target of 60% of the population in a short period of time,” highlighted Dr Enkhbold Sereejav, Minister of Health of Mongolia.

“Used together with public health measures like handwashing, mask wearing and physical distancing, COVID-19 vaccines are a critical new tool in our fight against the pandemic. This is the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines delivered by the COVAX Facility backed by partners including WHO, CEPI and Gavi and UNICEF. It will help the Government to scale up the country’s immunization campaign to protect its people. It’s encouraging that Mongolia has already vaccinated over 67,000 people, including priority groups such as health workers. WHO has been supporting the country in its vaccine deployment preparation, and will continue closely working with the Government and partner organizations towards a safe recovery from this pandemic,” said Dr Sergey Diorditsa, WHO Representative to Mongolia.

“UNICEF applauds the Government of Mongolia for intensifying the recently launched COVID-19 immunization campaign. UNICEF will continue to support Mongolia in accessing vaccines via the COVAX Facility and purchasing WHO Emergency Use Listed vaccines through other channels so that the country can successfully implement its National vaccination and deployment plan. We are very grateful to many donors that contribute to COVAX, such as Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Controlling the pandemic will allow children to go back to kindergarten and school, to socialize with friends and to play sports without worries. This is important because they have fallen behind in their education and social development. We need to get them back on track as soon as possible. UNICEF will also continue to support the Government with upgrading the cold chain to ensure safe storage of all vaccines across the country,” said Alex Heikens, UNICEF Representative to Mongolia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia has informed that Mongolia is set to receive 112,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and 25,740 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in total via the first shipments under the COVAX Facility.

Ulaanbaatar /13 March 2021/

source: www.montsame.mn