Sofia, December 22 (BTA) - Health Minister Kostadin Angelov told
 journalists here on Tuesday that he is ready to be the first
Bulgarian to get the COVID-19 vaccine on December 27. The
Minister handed over 20 new and equipped ambulances to the
emergency centers in Bourgas, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Plovdiv,
Rousse, Sliven and Stara Zagora. A total of 280 ambulances have
been provided as part of the project for the modernization of
emergency medical care.

The Minister's remark about wanting to be the first to get the
vaccine comes just as a new survey (Alfa Research) shows that 15
 per cent of Bulgarians want to get the vaccine as soon as
possible, 40 per cent choose to wait and see how the vaccine
works on others before getting the jab, and 45 per cent are
opposed to the coronavirus vaccine altogether.

The first vaccines are expected to arrive in Bulgaria on
December 25 or 26, Angelov explained, adding that they will be
delivered to BulBio's warehouse, after which they will be
transported to the freezers of six regional health inspectorates
 across the country. The first shipment will have 9,750 doses
for over 4,000 Bulgarians. The remainder of the vaccines are
expected after New Year. The first batch will likely be
administered to people in three large cities who wish to get the
 shot.

Another meeting will be held later on Tuesday with everyone
responsible for the logistics of the vaccines - the heads of the
 six regional health inspectorates, the head of the national
immunization taskforce, BulBio representatives, where all
aspects of the vaccine's logistics and transportation will be
discussed, the Health Minister said. NV/MY