There is no technical capacity in Ukraine to conduct research and development of any vaccines, including against coronavirus, but preparations are underway for mass production, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“From the very beginning of the pandemic, we gathered all specialists. We have brilliant doctors, and this is true. Technically, we could not produce any vaccines, or develop from the point of view of science – there is no medical technical equipment. With all due respect, once again, to our doctors and scientists. There are no questions for them, they are great. But there was nothing at all, there were no laboratories, vaccine production – I will tell you frankly, now there are already several enterprises that are ready for mass production,” he told reporters during a working visit to Mykolaiv region.
Zelensky noted that the Health Ministry of Ukraine has already begun negotiations with the countries that are developing vaccine against coronavirus.
“If we manage to get the vaccine from one country or another, we are ready to produce it on a large scale, helping other countries and, first of all, helping Ukrainians,” the president stressed.
In addition, it is planned to create a research center in Ukraine specializing in the development of vaccines.
“The question is global about science, medicine, the development of vaccines for the future, so this task has already been set. The Ministry of Health and the prime minister are gathering scientists separately, we will create a separate center, gather the best scientists of Ukraine, so that we could be ready for any future challenges. It takes time, but I believe that if we have a desire, we will do the rest,” Zelensky said.
