Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening to you all,

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which changed our lives in such a short period of time and caused unprecedented hardships, vaccinations are being done in all corners of the world. It is commendable that 8.41 million doses are being administered in 121 countries daily and 334 million doses of vaccines – in total. However, it is upsetting that with this pace of 2 dose series vaccines, it will take 4 years to vaccinate 75 per cent of the world’s population. Thus, in today’s situation, every country must pay a considerable attention to vaccination issue and consolidate their efforts and activities.

Today Mongolia is receiving first batch of 14,400 doses of vaccines from the COVAX facility, which was established with the purpose of coordinating equal distribution of vaccines during these difficult times. I would like to express a sincere gratitude on behalf of Government of Mongolia and the State Emergency Commission to all donor countries, international organizations, NGOs, and individuals who have contributed to this program.

As of 11 March, around 69,000 people are vaccinated and the Government of Mongolia is working toward a goal to vaccinate 60 percent of the total population, which is about 2 million adults, by July of this year.

Within the COVAX Facility’s first phase of distribution, our country is to receive 112,800 doses of AstraZeneca and 25,740 doses of Pfizer vaccines.

There is no doubt that vaccines which we have received today and those to be received in future from the COVAX Facility will be a real support and assistance towards reaching this goal.

I thank you all for taking time to attend today’s ceremony and wish you health, success and wellbeing. Meantime, allow me to kindly remind you that dangers of the pandemic are still menacing us, thus, I urge everyone to continue to take protective and safety measures.

I thank you for your attention.

March 12, 2021