GRODNO, 19 March (BelTA) – There is intense competition among manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with the team of the Molochny Mir dairy on 19 March, BelTA has learned.
“I am very concerned about the ‘vaccine fight’ of late. The vaccine market is estimated at trillions, and everybody want to have a piece of it,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko is also concerned that the topic of the pandemic is deliberately exaggerated, for example, news about new variants of the coronavirus comes our regularly. However, the president thinks it is too early to draw conclusions about this situation.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that Belarus will soon launch the production of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and expects to develop its own jab by the end of the year. “We have purchased the necessary equipment and will get down to it soon,” the president noted.
Belarus made the right decision not to impose a lockdown, the head of state noted. “Some thought they needed it. Those who shut down enterprises are still struggling to recover. This is why we have not halted anything and we did right. Now they admit, however grudgingly, that Lukashenko was right,” the Belarusian president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus will spare no effort to preserve people’s lives and health. “Do not worry, especially about children. It is our task to protect you from all those new variants. There are enough hospital beds everywhere, including in Grodno Oblast. As for vaccination, there is nothing to worry about, everyone will get their shots,” he added.