Today, Ukraine has received the second batch of COVID-19 vaccines within the framework of the COVAX, a global initiative to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries.

UNICEF in synergy with WHO have delivered 367,200 doses of AstraZeneca-SKBio vaccine, manufactured by SK Bioscience, South Korea.

This batch is to be used to immunize priority groups and people aged 65+.

All vaccines under the COVAX initiative are received by Ukraine free of charge.

The supply of vaccines under COVAX will continue: by the end of the year, UNICEF will deliver vaccines for the immunization of 8 million Ukrainians.

On behalf of the COVAX, UNICEF supplies only those COVID-19 vaccines that meet WHO safety and efficacy criteria.

"The big advantage of getting vaccines through the COVAX mechanism is that all vaccines are free. The second batch of vaccine through COVAX arrived at a very symbolic time - on the eve of World Immunization Week, which aims to remind the importance of vaccination to protect children and adults," said UNICEF President in Ukraine Lotta Sylwander.

As the world struggles against COVID-19, vaccines remain the biggest hope to stop this pandemic. International partners will continue to support the Government of Ukraine in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the holding of vaccination campaign.

"Ukraine has set ambitious goals for COVID-19 vaccination coverage of the majority of the adult population by the end of the year. This is a huge challenge and to achieve this we are looking forward to the parallel launch of different platforms, the use of different vaccines and all possible delivery ways. We are pleased to receive another supply of vaccine from the global COVAX initiative. It is important that in the face of fierce competition and the struggle for access to vaccines in the world, COVAX in practice confirms the fulfillment of the tasks for which this global partnership was established - to provide fair opportunities for all. Ukraine, having fulfilled its obligations to the global mechanism, receives the first delivery, which will be immediately transferred to the categories for which it is intended," said Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Liashko.

Within the COVAX, UNICEF and WHO are working to deliver more vaccines to Ukrainians in collaboration with the governments of the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, USAID, the World Bank, and other donors.

Governments, private institutions, UN organizations, international organizations provide assistance to Ukraine. Ukraine is among the 92 countries in the world that receive COVID-19 vaccines under COVAX. The World Health Organization is grateful for such global support, emphasizes Guillaume Simonyan, Head of the WHO Health Emergency Program, WHO Office in Ukraine.

It is important to secure that healthcare workers continue to vaccinate against COVID-19 in accordance with safety regulations and vaccinate people as soon as possible. And everyone needs to work to ensure that people are confident in life-saving vaccines.

People should continue to wear masks, wash their hands regularly, and maintain physical distance to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, as part of the COVAX initiative, UNICEF delivered 117,000 doses of Pfizer to Ukraine.