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First batch of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine arrives in Azerbaijan

In March, Azerbaijan’s authorities issued permission for using Sputnik V for vaccinating citizens

BAKU, May 2. /TASS/. The first batch of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine arrived in Azerbaijan on Sunday, a TASS correspondent reported.

The drugs were delivered to Baku’s Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Representatives of Azerbaijan’s Foreign and Health Ministries and Russian Ambassador to Baku Mikhail Bocharnikov took part in the greeting ceremony.

"The vaccine’s delivery is a gesture of our friendship with Azerbaijan. I’m glad that the Russian vaccine will contribute to Azerbaijan’s struggle against the coronavirus infection," the diplomat said. According to Bocharnikov, Sputnik V’s efficacy is 97%, and the vaccine has been registered in more than 60 countries.

The Russian envoy noted that the next batch’s delivery is expected during this month.

In March, Azerbaijan’s authorities issued permission for using Sputnik V for vaccinating citizens.

Azerbaijan launched vaccination on January 18, using CoronaVac by China’s Sinovac Biotech. Baku signed a contract for purchasing 9 mln doses of this vaccine. Some 4 mln of them are delivered from Turkey. Since May 3, vaccination with Vaxzevria, a new term for drug by the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca, will begin. At first, citizens above 60 years of age will be vaccinated.

Since the start of the pandemic in Azerbaijan, 320,322 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, 291,564 people have recovered and another 4,538 patients have died.

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