Eurasianet

Central Asia’s largest nations are using unique coronavirus vaccines that haven’t been carefully studied. Do they have a choice?

A few months ago, the thought of taking a Chinese COVID vaccine was unthinkable to Georgians. Now it’s the norm.

Vaccine hesitancy in Uzbekistan is high, bred by social media conspiracies that seem credible in a country without accountable authorities.

Yet another fashionable slogan means nothing when it’s needed most.

It can take four days to get to the front of the line at this bitterly cold pass almost two miles high.

Kazakh officials say the Chinese are breaking their legal commitments.

Hopes are being pinned on the Sino-Uzbek vaccine ZF-UZ-VAC 2001.

Spraying chlorine, new infrastructure on the Afghan border, and claims of a naturally occurring COVID vaccine. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan bulletin.

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan are taking triumphalist stances on coronavirus.

5,000 people are taking part in the trials.

5,000 volunteers have been mobilized for the phase-three trial.

Officials say Uzbekistan plans to produce its own vaccine when tests are done.

Beijing is eager to show solidarity as the coronavirus pandemic rumbles on.

Many in the territory blame the rising numbers of coronavirus cases on the authorities’ decision to open up to Russian tourists.

The territory's public health officials have warned against opening up to tourism, and the arrival of tourists has coincided with a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.