The Albanian government will negotiate vaccine deals with producing countries, possibly with Russia and China as well.
A recent government decision has authorized Ministers of Health and Reconstruction to enter negotiations with any country where vaccines are produced, distributed and/or authorized for use.
It clears the way for negotiations for China’s Sinopharm and Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines, despite Prime Minister Edi Rama’s earlier hesitation while the EU and US has not approved their use.
Serbia is the first country in the Western Balkans to use the Russian vaccine. Some EU countries, including Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic have either received or signed contracts for one of the two jabs.
The Abanian government’s decision marks a change in its approach towards the Chinese and Russian vaccines.
Rama had previously reacted harshly to the suggestion Albania use the Sputnik V vaccine. When the Russian embassy in Tirana reminded Rama that their vaccine was a possibility, he responded that their suggestion was “inappropriate” and “ridiculous”, and demanded an apology.
He later explained that vaccine purchase is not a geopolitical matter.
Albania has administered 22,693 Pfizer vaccine doses so far.
