COVID-19: Tajikistan becomes first country to make vaccines mandatory

Tajikistan on Saturday became first country in world to “mandate” coronavirus vaccination for all its citizens aged 18 and above. sweeping mandate was announced 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 age,” brief statement re, as cited by BNO news service. “People who have not 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 no social distancing was observed. “Tajikistan today is without COVID-19,” country’s leer h proudly announced, attracting flak from regional observers and experts, Critics widely criticised announcement, which y believed, was a conscious move to project [Rahmon’s] government as perpetually ‘strong’ and confident leership that h gotten pandemic “under control.” 

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 norrn 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 not have his positive diagnosis reflect on Health Ministry’s COVID-19 data. Country’s RFE/RL’s Tajik service, Rioi Ozodi announced late May that medic was fired by health ministry.

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.