WHO Representative in Armenia: AstraZeneca vaccine is effective and  safe

ArmInfo. The vaccine is an important tool for changing the pandemic situation both globally and in Armenia. Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in  Armenia Yegor Zaitsev stated this at a press conference in Yerevan on  March 29.

The WHO representative also informed that due to the shortage of the  vaccine, vaccinations are given priority to people at risk. "The  first risk group is the medical staff who interacts with infected  patients. The second group is people with chronic diseases (diabetes,  obesity, etc.). And the third group are elderly people. These groups  are given priority in the distribution of the vaccine, "Zaitsev said.

Speaking about the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, he assured that  it is effective and safe. "There has been no proven association  between patients' thromboembolic events and the vaccine, although  this relationship is still being investigated. This issue is at the  center of attention of both WHO and the European Medicines Agency.  The benefits of the vaccine exceed all the risks, "he said.

At the same time, Zaitsev said that the most serious complication  that can occur as a result of vaccination is anaphylactic shock,  which in theory can occur due to any drug and substance.  "Anaphylactic shock is considered a manageable complication, and if  the medical staff knows how to behave and how to provide care to the  patient correctly, serious problems and deaths can be avoided,"  Zaitsev added.

At the same time, he noted that despite the availability of the  vaccine, no one canceled the observance of anti-epidemiological  measures, urging to wear masks, keep distances and treat hands with  disinfectants. In turn, the head of the immunization program of the  Ministry of Health of Armenia Gayane Sahakyan noted that most often  after the introduction of this vaccine, such complications as  redness, pain at the injection site are recorded.  According to her,  more than 20 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have already been  administered, of which 11 million doses are in the UK, where this  vaccine is produced. "The data were encouraging, there were no  vaccine-related deaths. There were 7 cases of thromboembolism and  about 18 cases of sinus thromboembolism of the brain. But, the  connection with the vaccine has not been proven, while the  coronavirus itself, according to the specialist, could lead to such  complications, "she said, adding that Armenia also plans to purchase  vaccines from other countries, including the Russian Sputnik-V.  As  ArmInfo has already reported today, in spite of the refusal of a  number of European countries from the Swedish-British vaccine  AstraZeneca, Armenia imported the first batch of the drug in the  amount of 24 thousand doses. Vaccination in the country will be  carried out on a voluntary basis and is intended for citizens at  risk, in particular, medical personnel, citizens over 65 years old,  as well as citizens from 16 to 64 years old with chronic diseases,  employees of care centers for the elderly, and their wards.  Recall  that a number of EU countries refused to supply the AstraZeneca  vaccine, or suspended the vaccination process for their citizens due  to the reported consequences. It was reported that after the  injection, the vaccinated citizens developed thromboembolic  complications, in addition, deaths were recorded.