According to Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, a significant portion of the 1.1 million Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines will be delivered in the second quarter between April and June. The Ministry of Health was informed that a first delivery of more than 412,000 doses of vaccine could be received in the second quarter.
Kariņš pointed out that it is currently envisaged that Latvia will receive 2 million doses of vaccine in the second quarter, which would be enough for one million people and that therefore it is realistic to see mass vaccinations underway from 1 April.
Health Minister Daniels Pavļuts ("For Development / For") confirmed that it is a realistic forecast to expect 1.8 million vaccines to be delivered in the second quarter, unless something unexpected happens.
Asked if the ministry is ready for mass vaccination, he said: "We are working on the mass vaccination phase, in parallel with the vaccination of seniors, social care centers and doctors. We will report on this to the government on Tuesday, with the next progress report. We are preparing vaccination centers of national importance, we are working on administrative procedures and resource mobilization. "
Kariņš pledged that a large part of the population will have been vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of the second quarter, without venturing a precise forecast. He also apologized to people who had been confused by the lack of information and clarity regarding vaccination against Covid-19.
The Ministry of Health stated that the application for Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines is necessary in the light of past experience of delayed or reduced deliveries of vaccines.
