Today the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 began in the Republic of Moldova. The first to be vaccinated are the medical workers from the anesthesia and intensive care units, followed by those from the COVID-19 units.

Alexandru Botizatu, Head of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department at the Timofei Mosneaga Republican Clinical Hospital, is the first medical worker vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is a lifeline in this pandemic.  I feel proud and I also have good thoughts because finally there is light in this dark tunnel.  I am glad that my colleagues in the medical system also want to be vaccinated and we will be able to continue our work, with the hope that this pandemic will come to an end”, said the doctor.

Alexandru Botizatu mentioned that he is feeling well, and the injection of the vaccine was painless.

The example of the doctor was also followed by medical workers of the Emergency Medicine Institute and by all medical workers at the national level.  

The AstraZeneca vaccine, provided free of charge by the authorities of Romania, was distributed to all Vaccination Centers in the country this morning and the vaccination campaign started at national level.

It is to be noted that the AstraZeneca vaccine is pre-qualified by the World Health Organization and registered in the Republic of Moldova by the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency on February 26 this year. Its effectiveness ranges from 60% to 90%, the interval between injections is from 4 to 12 weeks. The vaccine is intended for persons aged over 18.  The AstraZeneca vaccine has now been approved in more than 50 countries, the first country being the United Kingdom, followed by the EU and India.