President Tokayev Takes His First Shot of the Vaccine

As Berik Uali, press secretary of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, the head of the state has gotten his first shot of the Sputnik V vaccine.

On April 6 President Tokayev was vaccinated with Sputnik V, according to Uali. This news prompted rumors because many Kazakhstanis are wondering why Tokayev has chosen the Russian Sputnik V instead of the vaccine developed by Kazakhstani scientists, even though he promised to do so at the beginning of the year.

«The president is a strong supporter of the domestic production; I can say it without reservation. He’s got the first shot of the vaccine produced in Karaganda because he is full of trust towards our scientists. However, once the domestically developed vaccine is available, the president will take it as well. The production plant in Zhambyl region should start its operation soon and the president is going to visit it,» wrote Uali on his Facebook page.

President Tokayev has no doubts that there is no alternative to vaccination of all people in the country. The nationwide vaccination campaign is the only way to achieve herd immunity, which is essential for restriction measures to be lifted and for people to be able to return to their normal lives, he underlined.

To bring this plan into reality, the president has ordered the government and local executive bodies to make sure that the country has vaccines, whether they are foreign or local product.