Today, 8 million doses of vaccine used in Kazakhstan — Ministry of Healthcare

Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alexey Tsoy spoke at the briefing at the Central Communication Service about the current epidemiological situation in the country.

According to him, in the world, compared to the previous week, the number of new cases of coronavirus infection increased by 12%, since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 190 million cases of CVI have been registered, about 500 thousand cases are registered per day. More than 4 million people have died, which is associated with the wide spread of the delta variant; according to WHO, this type of strain is distributed in 124 countries of the world.

At the same time, the World Health Organization announced the identification and circulation of the Lambda strain, which was first detected in Peru in December 2020 and to date, about 3,000 cases have been identified in 30 countries, mainly in North and South America, European countries (Chile, USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and others).

“As of July 23, 516,117 patients with a positive result of COVID-19 and 59,150 cases with CVI- were registered in Kazakhstan. About 87% of patients with CVI recovered, including 441 437 patients with CVI + and 53 780 patients with CVI-. According to the matrix of the epidemiological situation, the Republic of Kazakhstan has been in the red zone since June 26,” Tsoy said.

In the "red" zone there are 15 regions: the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Shymkent, Atyrau, Karaganda, West Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, Akmola, Mangystau, Aktobe, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, Almaty, Zhambyl regions.

There are 2 regions in the "yellow" zone (East Kazakhstan, Turkistan).

Taking into account the prevalence of the Delta variant over the past two weeks compared to the previous two weeks, in general, there is an increase in the incidence in the republic in almost all regions.

“The increase in the incidence was 2 times (from 33,288 cases to 68,117 cases), the greatest increase in the incidence is noted in the North Kazakhstan region (3.3 times), the city of Shymkent (3 times), Aktobe, Kyzylorda (2.8 times), in Atyrau (2.6 times), in the Turkistan region and in the city of Almaty (2.5 times). Compared to June, the average daily incidence increased by 4.8 times (from 1,263 cases in June to 6,100 cases in July),” Tsoy noted.

According to the daily monitoring of the bed fund in the context of regions as of July 23, 2021, the employment of infectious beds in the republic is 49% (21,096 beds), resuscitation beds — 38% (1,532 beds). Taking into account the increase in morbidity and the increased burden on the health care system, about 10 thousand beds were additionally deployed in July, about 21.4 thousand beds remain in reserve.

As of July 23 in comparison with July 1 of this year. In the country, there is a progressive increase in the employment of infectious beds by 20% (from 30 to 49%) and intensive care beds by 14% (from 24 to 38%).

A high increase in the employment of infectious and intensive care beds is noted in the years. Nur-Sultan, Shymkent, Akmola, Kyzylorda, Aktobe, Mangystau regions.

“Today the country is fully provided with the necessary volume of medicines and medical devices. In hospitals, a monthly supply of drugs for the treatment of CVI has been formed, in the warehouses of IC "Pharmacy" and in pharmacies — a two-month supply. In all regions, stabilization funds of medicines for 18 billion tenge have been created,” the minister of healthcare said.

Meanwhile, access of the population to testing has been ensured, today 157 laboratories and 66 points for the collection of biological material have been involved in the diagnosis of COVID-19 (of which laboratories of the sanitary and epidemiological service — 27, private laboratories — 63, laboratories of medical organizations — 66, veterinary laboratories — 1) with a total capacity of 120 thousand studies per day.

For reference: April 2020, the testing capacity was 6,000 studies per day. In May-June 2020, 28,000 tests / day, in July 2020 - 32,000 tests / day. In August 2020, 40 thousand per day. In September 2020, more than 40 thousand tests per day. In October 2020, 63 thousand tests per day. In November 2020, more than 89 thousand tests. In December 2020, more than 100,500 tests per day.

In January 2021, 105,000 tests, in February 2021, 110,300 tests per day, in March 2021, more than 113,000 tests per day, in April, May, June 2021, more than 123,000 tests per day.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the laboratories involved have conducted 13,871,687 studies, of which 629,523 positive ones (specific weight 4.5%). To date, the availability of testing has increased from 6 thousand to 67 thousand studies per day.

For reference: in 2020, 5,570,389 tests were carried out, positive 223,074 (specific gravity 4.0%), from the beginning of the year to date, 7,936,380 were carried out, of which 362,946 were positive (specific gravity 4.5%).

In addition, the vaccination of the eligible population continues. To date, 8 million doses of the vaccine have been used, of which 5,054,970 people were vaccinated with component 1, which is 51% of the subject population. The second component covered 3,075,907 people.

“There are about 580 thousand of the first component and 1 million 190 thousand of the second component in the vaccination centers. Vaccination is the only way to reduce the spread of the virus and return to the old way of life, work, communication, family traditions and travel,” Tsoy said.

It is worth noting that for the current period 1,860 mobile monitoring groups are involved in the republic.

Business entities still do not comply with the requirements for carrying out activities in a pandemic. So, in July, monitoring groups covered 53,459 objects, of which 1,586 objects were found to have violations, the proportion of objects with violations was 2.9%, which is 1.6 times higher than in June (in June surveyed 103,499 objects, of which 1880 were violated, which is 1.8%).

The largest number of objects with violation was established in Zhambyl, Turkistan, East Kazakhstan, Kostanay regions, the cities of Shymkent and Almaty, where the percentage of violators from the number of objects surveyed was from 5 to 8%.

For reference: From January 1 to July 20 of this year monitoring groups in the republic carried out 129,223 raids, during which 747,204 objects were covered. Violations of restrictive measures were identified at 19 782 (2.6%) facilities. The largest number of violations by business entities was revealed in the East Kazakhstan region — 14.7%, Shymkent city — 9.5%, Almaty city — 8.9%, Zhambyl region — 6.7%, Nur-Sultan city — 4 .5%. On the facts of violations of the requirements of sanitary and epidemiological legislation in relation to legal entities and individuals, 18,675 administrative fines were imposed in the amount of more than 1.5 billion tenge, the activities of 85 objects were suspended, 333 materials were submitted to the court.

Today, the Ashyq system is being actively implemented, in which more than 19 thousand objects of all spheres of activity are involved, 4 million users are registered.

Since the introduction of Ashyq, 18,260 visitors with red and yellow statuses have been identified, including 10,102 patients with a positive PCR test result and 8,158 contact persons, which made it possible to prevent about 50 thousand new cases of COVID-19.

For reference: Within the framework of the Ashyq project, monitoring groups covered 30,533 objects — participants of the Ashyq project. Violations were identified at 399 sites. 147 fines were imposed on persons with "red" status in the amount of more than 6.7 million tenge. There were issued 1,876 decrees of the Chief State Sanitary Physicians of the regions with the requirements on the need to comply with the conditions of isolation (home quarantine) in relation to individuals with "red" and "yellow" status.

According to the minister, the Delta variant of coronavirus is highly contagious and 60% more infectious than the detected strains, on average 5-6 people become infected, while from circulating strains — 3-4 people, it differs in a shorter incubation period of up to 7 days.

“Therefore, it is very important to follow simple preventive measures. Such as hand hygiene, respecting social distance from others, wearing masks, ventilating the premises well, avoiding crowded places, disinfecting gadgets, office equipment and surfaces that you touch, limit if possible close hugs and handshakes when greeting,” said Tsoy.

The Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan also told why the supply of the Pfizer vaccine for 2 million doses was disrupted.

“A lot of different circumstances that affect the delay in the vaccine are under negotiation. We are trying to speed up the process and deliver the vaccine on time,” the head of the department said.

Tsoy noted that the ministry is taking maximum measures to deliver the Pfizer vaccine in due time.

“The work is being carried out to the maximum, accelerating. As soon as it becomes possible to supply this vaccine to Kazakhstan, we will definitely use it. We ask you to expedite the delivery time. Not everything depends on Kazakhstan — this time. Secondly, some of the conditions that are acceptable for Kazakhstan, we are currently negotiating about them. There is already a preliminary agreement on the terms that suit the Kazakh side. This is a negotiation process with all companies,” explained Tsoy.

According to the minister, Pfizer is intended for children, but they will be vaccinated only with parental consent.

“Our children should be able to get vaccinated. We cannot name a specific date yet. But already now many parents apply and ask to vaccinate their children, unfortunately, so far there are no such vaccines in Kazakhstan. As soon as the opportunity arises, we will ensure this accessibility,” said the head of the Ministry of Healthcare.

It is worth noting that since the beginning of the year, 34 thousand children have contracted coronavirus infection. Now 558 children are in inpatient treatment, 13 newborns are being observed with coronavirus infection. The increase in the incidence among children has been going on since the beginning of the year; in recent months, the number of cases has increased by 4-5 times.

On July 23, Almaty published the names of the quarantine violators with a "red" status. Does this violate the law on personal data?

The minister said that the Interdepartmental Commission had consulted with lawyers and read out some points from the experts' opinion. According to him, coronavirus is a disease that poses a danger to others. A COVID-19 patient is given a receipt stating that quarantine must be observed. It provides for consent to the processing of personal data.

“The Constitution contains the right of citizens to health care. This is done for collective security, and people posing a danger to the population, who can infect citizens, should be at home if they are treated outside the hospital,” Tsoy said.

The Minister of Healthcare urged Kazakhstanis to be actively vaccinated and not wait for the supply of new vaccines.

“We have more than 2 thousand vaccination points in Kazakhstan, practically in all corners of our country. There is an opportunity for vaccination, so there is no need to expect any new vaccines, especially since we will start vaccinating Pfizer primarily for children. Don't wait, get vaccinated now. You see, we are in a critical situation, the coronavirus infection is on the rise. Unfortunately, our citizens are dying, and these are all unvaccinated citizens. You know, when we talk with patients in intensive care, everyone begins to remember why they were not vaccinated before,” said the head of the Ministry of Healthcare.

He noted that vaccines available in Kazakhstan will help to avoid a severe course of the disease. As an example, he cited other countries where the level of vaccination is high.

“Look at other countries where the level of vaccination is high, where citizens do not die. We once again urge you not to fall for some populist slogans. You just have to come and get vaccinated. Such an opportunity is not available in all countries for the state to provide vaccines in such a volume for free. We are always looking somewhere, as if in other countries vaccines are better. Look at our neighbors, they envy us when they see that there is such availability of vaccines in Kazakhstan. There will be a new vaccine, please have an additional choice. But now we need to be vaccinated with what we have,” stressed Tsoy.

Earlier, the Ministry of Healthcare reported that 4,765 Kazakhstanis fell ill with coronavirus after being vaccinated. But this is a negligible percentage of the total number of vaccinated — only 0.09%.

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