Odessa region received the first batch of the American vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech as part of the global COVAX initiative. 1170 doses are already in the regional warehouse and will be given out for two mobile brigade 20 April.

Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection.

First of all, the mobile brigades will begin to vaccinate employees of geriatric centers, boarding schools, the employees of the State Emergency Service and the Border Guard Service.

A total of 4680 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be delivered to the Odessa region. Like previous COVID-19 vaccines, this one is given in two doses three weeks apart. That is, in total, 2,340 people will receive Pfizer vaccinations in total. The vaccination schedule in specialised institutions, as well as the lists of people who agreed to be vaccinated, have already been drawn up.

The vaccine is in special containers in deep freeze. In the warehouse, the entire batch will be stored in dry ice and thawed only before being handed over to the mobile team. If these conditions are met, the vaccine will be usable within five days (120 hours). During this time all doses must be used.

If there are residual doses of the vaccine, categories of citizens from the first two stages of the vaccination campaign, namely doctors, social workers, people aged 80 and over, will be able to apply for them. According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the effectiveness after the second dose is 95%.