Published 17:33 IST, July 4th 2021
COVID-19: Tajikistan becomes first country to make vaccines mandatory
“According to the decision [of the commission], vaccination against coronavirus is mandatory for citizens over 18 years of age,”Tajikistan’s ministry stated.
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Tajikistan on Saturday became first country in world to “mandate” coronavirus vaccination for all its citizens d 18 and above. sweeping mandate was anunced by Tajikistan’s Republican Hequarters for Strengning Anti-Epidemic Measures against COVID-19 in an official statement on July 3. Officials at anti-coronavirus task force urged all ults in country to visit nearby vaccination centers and get jabbed against COVID-19 as a part of mandatory rule to combat spre of newly emerging delta variant.
“According to decision [of commission], vaccination against coronavirus is mandatory for citizens over 18 years of ,” brief statement re, as cited by B news service. “People who have t been vaccinated against coronavirus infection should consult a family doctor or local health facility,” it furr stated.
In January, earlier this year, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon h declared central Asian country “COVID-19 free” in a packed parliament where officials were seen hering to mask rule, although social distancing was observed. “Tajikistan today is without COVID-19,” country’s leer h proudly anunced, attracting flak from regional observers and experts, Critics widely criticised anuncement, which y believed, was a conscious move to project [Rahmon’s] government as perpetually ‘strong’ and confident leership that h gotten pandemic “under control.”
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Despite claims of “victory” over coronavirus pandemic, country reported fresh onslaught of outbreaks with a significant spike in rate of hospitalisation by end of May, medics told Eurasianet. In rrn Sughd region, he physician at a local hospital Abumavlon Abdullozoda told on-ground reporters that hospitals were largely relying on signs of ground-glass opacity in patients’ lungs on MRI scan to detect coronavirus infection, as most patients got a negative PCR test despite symptoms.
doctor also revealed that a Yemini national that returned from overseas and was asked to go under quarantine at a hotel did t have his positive diagsis reflect on Health Ministry’s COVID-19 data. Country’s RFE/RL’s Tajik service, Rioi Ozodi anunced late May that medic was fired by health ministry.
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Country procured 192,000 doses of AstraZeneca
In an efforts to curb rising infections, Tajikistan procured 192,000 doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccines via COVAX Facility. It was first jabs shipment to arrive in Central Asia and second such shipment to WHO European Region. Tajikistan kicked start its vaccination campaign in a historic step towards COVAX’s goal of ensuring equitable distribution of at least 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by end of 2021, according to UNICEF.
17:33 IST, July 4th 2021