COVAX Blames Bosnia for Hold-up Over COVID-19 Vaccines

While many countries race ahead with their COVID-19 vaccination programs, Bosnia and Herzegovina has barely started - will not receive any vaccines through the COVAX mechanism even in March, according to a document received by Bosnia's Ministry of Civil Affairs from the COVAX office.

The letter quoted by the media on Wednesday states that on January 29 Bosnia was informed that it would receive 23,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine if it met a number of conditions, which COVAX - the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access initiative - said were not met.

Specifically, it stated that, according to Pfizer's own analysis for each country, Bosnia has not met its obligations. This refers mainly to the supply of "ultra-cold" storage for vaccines but also to some obligations from a legal and administrative aspect.

"After several interviews with Pfizer in the last three weeks, we regret to inform you that the delivery of these doses, which were intended to be delivered in the first quarter of this year, will be delayed until additional Pfizer requirements for in-depth analysis are met," the letter reads.

To help resolve the problem, COVAX has offered to facilitate talks between Bosnia and Pfizer representatives.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs previously insisted it had fulfilled all its obligations. In response to queries from the regional N1 television station on Monday, it said it had no information on when vaccines from the COVAX programme might now arrive in the country.

"Only the GAVI alliance has information on when the vaccines will be delivered to Bosnia and Herzegovina," it said referencing the financing instrument that enables countries to take part in the joint COVAX facility.

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