Vaccination of frontline workers with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine starts today in Skopje at the Boris Trajkovski Sports Center. Almost 3,000 shots are set to be administered.

The initial stage involves the immunization of people working in the Interior Ministry, the army, journalists, City of Skopje services as well as bus drivers, fire fighters, kindergarten staff, pay toll staff, etc.

They will receive jabs at 48 vaccination stations after earlier this week Serbia donated the first batch of 20,000 Sputnik V vaccines.

A rehearsal took place Saturday at the sports arena of how the mass vaccination will be coordinated, including points where citizens will be registered, examined by doctors and vaccinated. There will be also points where revaccination certificates will be issued, vaccine fridges, etc.

A team of 20 nurses and five doctors will be deployed to work in two shifts at the arena, where there will be also sites for 15-20-minute observation of those who are vaccinated. Emergency teams will be also nearby.

Visiting Boris Trajkovski Sports Center, Health Minister Venko Filipche said in the beginning, 4,000 people a day on average will be vaccinated across the country. He also said he hoped that up to 7,000 people will be vaccinated daily once the system becomes fully operational.

“I hope citizens will be willing to receive the vaccine. Once more vaccines start arriving, the age limit will start lowering,” Filipche told reporters, noting he was satisfied with the vaccination campaign so far in the country.

1,300 people have been vaccinated so far in North Macedonia.