30 People Vaccinated with Sputnik V in Armenia; Only Reaction Reported is Injection Site Pain, Sahakyan Says

No serious or unusual side effects have been recorded among those vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in Armenia, stated Gayane Sahakyan, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, during an interview with Shant TV. She also noted that she herself was vaccinated with the aforementioned vaccine.

Armenia received a small batch of the Sputnik V vaccine as assistance, and even the former Minister of Health, Arsen Torosyan, was vaccinated with it. A total of 30 individuals in Armenia have received the Sputnik V vaccine.

The only reported reaction is pain at the injection site, which is expected. However, Sahakyan mentioned that she did not experience even that pain. She added that, generally, among 40,000 people vaccinated with Sputnik V, no unusual reactions have been recorded.

When asked why she is wearing a mask while seated in the studio, Sahakyan responded that being vaccinated does not mean one can remove their masks. According to her, only when mass vaccinations occur and 50-70% of the global population is vaccinated can everyone say goodbye to masks. Additionally, Sahakyan indicated that predictions suggest there may be a resurgence of cases in the near future.

Regarding the vaccination of vulnerable groups with Sputnik V in Armenia, Sahakyan stated that negotiations are still ongoing and they hope to have such an opportunity by the end of February. She remarked that the vaccination will be based on voluntary principles, with around 600,000 individuals in the risk groups, including healthcare workers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.

Discussing the price of the vaccine, Sahakyan mentioned that it ranges from $4 to $12. She also noted that the Armenian side is negotiating the delivery of four types of vaccines (including the Russian one) against coronavirus. It is planned to purchase vaccines for 10% of Armenia's population, specifically for at-risk groups.