The European Commission and Austria provided BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines for the Western Balkans – Montenegro will receive 42 000 of dozes

The European Commission and Austria today officially announced the contract on delivering BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines, thanks to which 651.000 of dozes will be opted for the Western Balkans. 

The first assignment to all partners in the region is expected in May, while regular tranche will be continued until August. As the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced on Twitter, “42.000 of vaccine dozes financed by EU, will arrive in Montenegro from May to end of August”.

Distribution among countries will be based on the epidemiological needs, and when we speak about immunization with this vaccine, the advantage will have medical workers at the first line in fight against virus and other vulnerable groups.

“The European Union stands with partners in the region, that see support in us. I would like to express the gratitude to the Austria for enabling this transfer, stating its firm commitment and solidarity with the Western Balkans”, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen uttered.

“Despite current shortage at the global level, the EU will assign saving vaccines for the Western Balkans. We provide support from the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic. Now we will help to insure vaccination of all medical workers in the region that are on the first line of the fight, as well as some other vulnerable group. We care about the Western Balkans, which future is in the EU”, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi.

“The priority is that vaccines against COVID-19 be soon and generally accessible to the people around the Europe. In that context, support to the Western Balkans in approach to the vaccines is act of European solidarity and investment in health and safety of the whole region. At the end, empty areas on the vaccination map, wherever, represent danger for all of us. Nobody is not safe until everyone are safe”, Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Schallenberg stated.

Austria enabled distribution of the vaccines through legal arrangements with producer and partners from the Western Balkans. Doses are being financed from package worth 70 million of euros, that Commission adopted in December 2020, so it can help in covering costs of the vaccines ensured according to the agreements of the EU on procurement for the Western Balkans’ partners defined in advance.