Experts from Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) recommend the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to reduce the interval between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from 12 weeks to eight-four weeks.
“We recommend that the Health Ministry’s expert group should decide to reduce the interval between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and accept the relevant recommendation from the Australian technical group. It suggests that it is advisable to reduce the interval to four-eight weeks during the period of an outbreak risk,” Head of the KSE Center for Health Care Economics Yuriy Hanychenko said during an online presentation of an analysis of the situation with the spread of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Recent studies have shown a decrease in the effectiveness of one dose of AstraZeneca against the delta strain, he said, while two doses show similar effectiveness as against other strains.
“With a significant risk of an outbreak in Ukraine, those vaccinated with only one dose will receive little protection. This risk does not outweigh the benefit of the potential increase in efficacy with a second dose after 12 weeks,” Hanychenko said.
He also noted that a number of countries, in particular the United Kingdom and Australia, have already reduced the interval between the two doses.
In addition, the expert stressed that the epidemic situation in Ukraine continues to worsen, but remains under control so far.
“Beds with oxygen and resuscitation beds are loaded by 10% and 15%, respectively. The case detection rate is at 2.8%. At the same time, hospitalizations are already a quarter higher than discharges. That is, the gap between hospitalizations and discharges is increasing and the burden on the healthcare system is accelerating. Over the week, the number of patients increased by 16%, last week the growth was 9%,” he said.
Hanychenko stressed that the incidence is growing in 16 out of 25 regions. There were four such regions last week.
More than 80% of all deaths from COVID-19 in Ukraine are people over 60, the Ministry of Health said on Facebook.
According to the report, as of August 14, 2021, some 53,255 people died from coronavirus disease, of which 43,566 were aged 60 and over.
“This is further evidence that older people are at a high risk of coronavirus disease. And the older the person is, the higher this risk. So, the proportion of people aged 60-69 among the dead is 29% [15,533 people], and people over 70 – 52% [28,033],” the report says.
Kokhavynska paper mill (Lviv region), producer of sanitary and hygienic paper products (the Kokhavynka brand), in January-July 2021 increased the volume of commercial products by 10% compared to the same period in 2020, to UAH 366.8 million.
According to the statistics of the Ukrpapir association, provided to Interfax-Ukraine, in kind the production of base paper for sanitary and hygienic products slightly fell to 22,900 tonnes.
At the same time, the production of toilet paper in rolls decreased 4.5%, to 64 million pieces. (In general, the industry’s enterprises produced 407.3 million rolls in the quarter – a 2.6% decline).
Thus, the factory retains the third position in the production of these products after Kyivsky Cardboard and Paper Mill (247.7 million rolls) and VGP (the Ruta brand, 79.5 million pieces).
Kokhavynska paper mill, operating since 1939, produces base paper for sanitary and hygiene products, as well as toilet paper and paper towels. The capacity of paper machines is 19,000 tonnes per year, processing equipment – 90 million rolls annually.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has provided a loan of up to EUR 13.8 million to Kokhavynska paper mill to finance the construction of a new production facility to make paper products based on imported cellulose (currently only waste paper is used as raw material). The total cost of the project is EUR 28.5 million.
MAP OF INTERNET COVERINGS OF UKRAINIAN BASIC MOBILE OPERATORS IN JUNE 2021
Over 15 years, NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy has invested about $580 million in the production of concessional oil and gas fields of hydrocarbons in Egypt, said First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the company Serhiy Pereloma.
“We plan to develop this area in the future and, accordingly, to increase the volume of hydrocarbon production,” he wrote on his Facebook page following a meeting with Ambassador of the Republic Ayman Elgammal.
According to him, the joint company of the NJSC and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) – Petrosannan Company – were able to significantly increase the production of hydrocarbons in the Alam El Shawish East Western Desert this year. In particular, work has begun to increase hydrocarbon recovery by flooding an oil reservoir of one of the main fields, an intensive well workover campaign has been carried out, and significant results have been achieved during hydraulic fracturing operations.
“We plan to expand this successful experience. We are looking for ways not only to increase oil and gas production, but also new opportunities for their further transportation,” Pereloma said.
He also said that the Petrosannan Company has provided the Egyptian Coptic Church in Asyut governorate with geological data that will help drill new wells to supply the farms with fresh water.
The mobile operator Vodafone Ukraine plans to acquire more than 50% of the shares of the telecom operator Vega (PrJSC Farlep-Invest).
A source in the relevant field told Interfax-Ukraine that the relevant documents are already being considered by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU).
Vodafone Ukraine does not comment on the deal.
Vega also declined to make comments.
