Kazakhstan will decide on the purchase of a vaccine against COVID-19 after the results of clinical trials, Health Minister of republic Alexei Tsoi said during a briefing. “We are currently studying types of vaccines from different countries. The delivery dates will depend on when the official confirmation appears that the vaccine has passed all stages of clinical trials and is approved for use for the general population,” the minister said.

Tsoi also said that Kazakhstan has preliminary agreements with Russia on the supply of vaccines as a priority. “Previously, we talked with our Russian colleagues that vaccines will be delivered to Kazakhstan on a priority basis. We have a similar preliminary agreement with other vaccine manufacturers who are currently conducting trials: this includes several types of vaccines that China and the UAE are testing, and other vaccines whose clinical trials are close to completion,” Tsoi added.

The minister clarified that Kazakhstan is in contact with all scientists and is waiting for accurate results to appear. After that, a decision will be made which vaccine to take first. The priorities for the supply of vaccines against COVID-19 were discussed at the World Health Organization. The first billion vaccines were planned to be sent to low- and middle-income countries. Earlier, it was reported that Russian scientists have successfully completed clinical trials of a vaccine against coronavirus. Moreover, its production can be organized in Kazakhstan.