Uzbekistan takes delivery of first batch of Chinese jabs

The first batch of Chinese coronavirus vaccines arrived in Uzbekistan on Saturday.

China and Uzbekistan have been providing mutual assistance to each other to overcome the coronavirus pandemic together, China's Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jiang Yan, said during a ceremony organized to receive the vaccines.

Uzbekistan started the phase III trial of the coronavirus vaccine developed by a Chinese company in December, and this month the country registered it for emergency use and marketing authorization.

"The Uzbek side trusts this vaccine, which is also good proof of the level of our trust and relations," Jiang said."China and Uzbekistan will continue to work together in overcoming all the consequences of the pandemic."

Minister of Health Abdukhakim Khadjibaev said:"In the near future these vaccines will be delivered to all regions of the country, where more than 3,000 vaccination points have been organized."

Uzbekistan planned to start mass vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine from April 1, but due to the national spring holiday of Navruz it was postponed until April 5. The country is also expected to buy 1 million doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

Xinhua - Agencies