PRAGUE (Reuters) – Slovakia will get 15,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from France, Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic said on Thursday.
Slovakia has been among the countries worst-hit by the pandemic, reporting the world’s highest number of COVID-related deaths per capita over the past week as the government’s restrictions have so far failed to tame the spread of the virus.
“France has made a gesture of friendship and European solidarity for Slovakia today in a serious epidemic situation,” Matovic said on Facebook.
“This is the first time Slovakia will get vaccines as a DONATION,” Matovic said in his post.
The country is also getting help with vaccine supplies via European Union, while Prime Minister Igor Matovic has also looked beyond the EU, shaking his own ruling coalition by buying doses of Russia’s Sputnik V.
(Reporting by Robert Muller; Editing by Alex Richardson)
