PANDEMIC

Vaccines through COVAX arrive in B&H tomorrow

The Federation of B&H, Republic of Srpska and the Brčko District have allocated about 13 million USD from the budget for the procurement of vaccines

The process of procurement of vaccines through the COVAX mechanism in B&H was launched in July. Illustration

H. J. I. / Fena

Coronavirus vaccines paid for by Bosnia and Herzegovina through the COVAX mechanism, 23,400 doses of BioNTech/Pfizer should arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina tomorrow, March 24, the B&H Ministry of Civil Affairs told FENA.

However, the Ministry currently has no information on the date of arrival of the next delivery. As in the case of tomorrow's delivery, as soon as they have reliable information, they will share it with the public, but note that the dynamics of delivery depends solely on the COVAX mechanism.

Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered 1,232,000 doses through the COVAX mechanism. The type of vaccine depends on the COVAX mechanism, i.e. which vaccines are available within the mechanism. Currently, BioNTech-Pfizer and AstraZeneca are scheduled to be delivered to B&H.

The process of procurement of vaccines through the COVAX mechanism in B&H was launched in July, and the agreement was signed on September 18, 2020. This mechanism, which covers 186 countries, is coordinated by the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

The Federation of B&H, Republic of Srpska and the Brčko District have allocated about 13 million USD from the budget for the procurement of vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, and the ordered quantities are intended for immunization of about 20 percent of the population.

On behalf of B&H, the Minister of Civil Affairs of B&H, Ankica Gudeljević, signed an agreement with the Gavi Alliance (Global Vaccine Alliance) on the procurement of vaccines for B&H citizens. By signing the agreement, B&H should have been among the first countries in the world to receive vaccines against Covid-19.

At the time of signing the contract, no vaccine had been approved, so B&H could not condition or choose the type of vaccine to be delivered, the Ministry told FENA earlier.

B&H was subsequently requested to sign an Amendment to the Commitment Agreement-committed purchase arrangement between the B&H Council of Ministers and GAVI on the Agreement between the Council of Ministers and AstraZeneca on compensation and the COVAX Compensation Agreement relating to additional Pfizer/BioNtech terms.

According to the information available to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, subsequent requests have been made to all states in the COVAX mechanism.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has fulfilled all the conditions related to the acceptance of vaccines, and preconditions have been created for the acceptance of any type of vaccine that will be delivered, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of B&H told FENA earlier.