The Armenian government is planning to purchase several hundred thousand doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, the Chief of the Prime Minister's Staff, ex-Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan said in an interview with Sputnik Armenia.

Torosyan explained that many aspects of the purchase depend on the rate of vaccination and the financial capabilities of the country.

According to Torosyan, he himself was the first person in Armenia to be vaccinated with the Sputnik V in late 2020. Since then, he said, his family members have been infected with the virus, while he has not. The former health chief drew on his experience to laud the vaccine as "a completely effective drug".

The prices for one jab now range from $5 to $30, and those purchased by Armenia cost between $5 and $10, Torosyan said. He also noted that there is no decision on a complete lockdown at the moment. The country must learn to live and function alongside the coronavirus, fighting against the spread of the infection and carrying out vaccinations, he added.

The Health Ministry said earlier that 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine have been imported to Armenia through COVAX facility. 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.