In January-March 2020, the entire world, without exception, froze in anticipation of almost the end of the world - the COVID-19 pandemic spares neither the rich nor the poor, nor politicians, nor athletes. Thousands of patients in different parts of the world are suffering from the onslaught of a new virus. In the summer, life gradually returns to its normal course - the so-called "first wave" has passed. However, with the onset of autumn, the situation worsens - in Ukraine, it is not like an apple, but a simple patient without an "anvil" has nowhere to fall - hospitals are overcrowded, there are not enough beds, and staff too. And when a ray of light appears at the end of the tunnel - the news about the first tests of vaccines in a number of countries - our country begins to include the rear.
VACCINE FROM THE AGGRESSOR
The story is as follows: in the middle of August, Vladimir Putin announced the registration of the first coronavirus vaccine in Russia, developed by the Ministry of Health Gamalea Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. It was named "Sputnik V". In parallel, clinical trials of the EpiVakCorona vaccine, developed by the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" of Rospotrebnadzor, were conducted. Developments have proven effective in the first phases.
Now these two vaccines against COVID-19 have been patented in the Russian Federation, but they have not yet passed the third stage of testing, which involves testing the drug on a large number of volunteers. Another - the third vaccine - has also been allowed to be tested on humans.
However, Ukraine will not purchase the Russian drug against the coronavirus, as this vaccine has not passed all stages of clinical trials, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said. According to the head of the Ministry of Health, there is no evidence in the world that the vaccine, which is being talked about in Russia, has passed all phases of clinical trials, especially the third.
— Now there is not even a topic of conversation for discussions — whether to buy a Russian vaccine or notStepanov noted.
At the same time, the ex-governor of the Odesa region previously admitted such a thought, however, he quickly recanted - after the representatives of the USA released him "on the carpet" to discuss programs to combat the virus. Question: are political agreements and pre-election machinations worth the lives of ordinary Ukrainians who spend thousands on diagnosis and treatment? And now we are not only talking about the coronavirus - because of the pandemic, planned operations have also stopped, and these are cancer patients, disabled people, for example.
BUY WHAT WILL WORK
The Ministry says: first of all, you need to understand the safety of any vaccine and only then can you recommend it to citizens. Meanwhile, on the Internet, everyone is talking about new figures - the cost of the vaccine. The price of 37 dollars was named by companies from the USA and China. It is formed in accordance with the costs of its production. In addition, it is not excluded that the price may be lower.
— There are prices, at least the information that was provided to us by companies producing vaccines that are conducting the third phase of trials. The previous price they gave was $37, - says the Minister of Health of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov.
The priority of the Ministry of Health is efficiency, and the government's priority is not to spoil international relations with anyone. For example, People's Deputy Renat Kuzmin is sure that the USA plans to test its vaccine on Ukrainian women.
"All independence is in the palm of your hand. Let me remind you that the director of the State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health, candidate of medical sciences, Tatiana Dumenko, said on the air "Right to Power" that Europe wants to test its vaccine against Covid-19 on Ukrainians. Of course, he wants it, and America wants it - it's so convenient and inexpensive. You simply invite the minister of a country of 40 million to a "dinner" and "by candlelight" command him what to do. And he chews and bows. That's all," he wrote on social media.
IS SHEPHERD WORTH SKINNING?
We don't want to buy a Russian vaccine, they don't really offer other options, Europe only talks about further research. Will Ukrainians be able to claim to overcome the global pandemic? Maybe Volodymyr Zelensky should have asked Ukrainians about vaccines in the framework of a national poll, rather than about the Budapest memorandum?
At the same time, vaccination against the coronavirus may begin in Europe in the spring-summer of 2021. This is the executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Guido Razy said on the air of the Italian TV channel Sky TG24. But according to him, it is important to continue wearing masks and keep a safe distance for at least another hour. Whether Ukraine will be able to get it is unknown.
— This is no longer a matter of politics. As you understand, Stepanov can be charged not only under Article 325 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (violation of sanitary norms and rules), but also after he ran to the Americans for support, he can be charged with Article 111 - state treason. We see that the US Embassy is pushing for the Minister. And let me remind you that he is still an official who, first of all, must fulfill his duties within the framework of Ukrainian law and for the people of Ukraine. The information that tests are not conducted in Russia or that they are conducted incorrectly is incorrect. Speculations about safety are inappropriate, because it is precisely the first two stages that are aimed at the study of safety. And already the third stage is aimed at confirming its effectiveness. That is, the Russian vaccine is safe. The question is purely political. Americans and Europeans will first of all treat their own people, not us, — the head of the National Medical Chamber Sergey Kravchenko told our correspondent.
The expert also added that Ukraine is currently unable to work and produce its own drugs. According to him, there are neither technical nor material possibilities for this. There is only one way out - to wait for gifts from other countries. There is only one question - how many lives will it cost...
Text: Kira Volkova
