Bulgaria to Receive 2,7 Million Additional Jabs of Pfizer Vaccine, Restrictions to Be Eased

As a result of renegotiation, Bulgaria expects to receive 2.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 in April and May, or by the middle of June at the latest, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Sunday while inspecting the construction of a sport hall in the southern village of Topolovo, accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Krassen Kralev and Health Minister Kostadin Angelov.

Borissov said the news made him very happy. He added that over 3 million people will have been vaccinated in Bulgaria by May. "I am saying this because everything has been agreed and I would not like to hear other people claim the credit again." According to the Prime Minister, Bulgaria has also negotiated the supply of 2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses for its anti-COVID campaign, but this vaccine is not on the market yet.

"Vaccine prices are soaring," Borissov said. "The trade war is a fact. A shot of the Pfizer vaccine used to cost 12 euro. Now it costs 15.5 euro. The EU is in the process of signing agreements for 900 million vaccine doses for 2022-2023, but this time the price is 19.5 euro."

Health Minister Angelov said later in the day that the Bulgarian authorities are considering a further relaxation of restrictions amid declining COVID-19 incidence. According to Angelov, the drop in incidence shows that the measures are working. Prime Minister Borissov recommended that the possibility for audiences to be allowed to return to the stadiums could be considered.