Belarus has started vaccinations against COVID-19 using the Chinese vaccine

       Belarus has started vaccinations against COVID-19 using the Chinese vaccine, BelTA has learned. On 19 February, 100,000 shots of the Chinese SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated, made by Sinopharm were delivered to Belarus from Beijing.According to Belarusian Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich, the vaccination campaign kicked off in Polyclinic No.39, one of the best polyclinics in Minsk. Healthcare workers will receive the COVID-19 vaccine first. Employees of the Healthcare Ministry will also get their shots. Mass vaccination with the Chinese vaccine will start in April. Eligible for vaccination will be people aged 16 and older, provided they have no contraindications.Since its delivery to Belarus, the vaccine has undergone all the necessary safety and quality procedures, Dmitry Pinevich added. This Chinese vaccine is supplied to more than 40 countries. It has proven safe: no serious side effects have been registered. It showed 86% efficacy in trials, which is confirmed by the countries who are already using the vaccine, and is 100% effective in preventing severe cases. Another advantage is that the vaccine can be transported and stored in the temperature between +2ºC and +8ºC.