COVID-19: FBiH seeks information on Russian and Chinese vaccines

The Federal Ministry of Health today urgently contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, asking it to request the characteristics of COVID-19 vaccines from the manufacturers, through the embassies of the Russian Federation and the PR China, as well as the vaccine's registration in the country of origin, and all other useful information.

The reason for this is that the Federal Ministry of Health and the Public Health Institute of the Federation of BiH have so far not had detailed information on the storage, preservation, distribution, and application conditions of these vaccines, in accordance with the manufacturers' conditions.

The Federal Ministry of Health reminds that at the 251st session of the FBiH Government held on January 14, the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan in FBiH was adopted, which stipulates that the FBiH Government and the Federal Ministry of Health are committed to ensuring that the COVID-19 vaccine to be administered in FBiH must be registered by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

By one of the conclusions, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Public Health Institute of FBiH, each within their competencies, are tasked with revising the Vaccination Plan in case of a changed epidemiological situation, i.e., new scientific findings regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as changes in other conditions on which the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination depends.

- The Federation of BiH has opted for the procurement of vaccines through the COVAX mechanism and the EU mechanism; however, the fact is that the delivery of ordered vaccines has not yet begun through these two mechanisms. For these reasons, a meeting was held on January 21 with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Zoran Tegeltija, attended by the prime ministers of the entities, the health ministers of the entities, the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH, as well as the Director of the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of BiH. The main topic of the meeting was the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. Namely, due to the delay in the delivery of the first vaccines through the COVAX system, BiH decided to initiate direct procurement of vaccines from Pfizer, as well as from vaccine manufacturers from Russia and the PR China - according to the statement from the FBiH Government Office for Public Relations.

The statement added that due to the changed circumstances, amendments and supplements to the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan in FBiH have also been prepared.