24,000 doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine have been imported to Armenia through COVAX facility, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, March 29.

The first batch of the shots will be used to vaccinate people aged over 65, those who have underlying health conditions, medical workers, residents and staff of elderly care centers, as well as social care center employees.

AstraZeneca's vaccine came under fire after several European countries put their vaccination programs on hold. A wider suspension came after German researchers noted an apparent raised incidence of rare blood clots that led Berlin to halt the AstraZeneca element of its inoculation program. Most countries, however, have said they are planning to resume using the vaccine.

"Thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Health, it was possible to receive the first batch of the vaccine on time," the Ministry said in a statement Sunday.

AstraZeneca said its Covid-19 vaccine was 76% effective at preventing symptomatic illness in a new analysis of its key trial in the United States – slightly lower than the level announced earlier this week in a report that was criticized for using outdated information.