Prime Minister Edi Rama said that it could take two years to vaccinate all people in Albania against COVID-19
In Parliament yesterday, he said the most ambitious scenario is to vaccinate everyone within 12 months.
“The most ambitious scenario is to vaccinate all categories and ages that are part of the vaccination plan within 12 months, the second scenario is within 18 months and the third after 24 months.”
He said that the government has secured further doses of the vaccine and that negotiations are ongoing between other companies and countries and Albania.
Rama also took the opportunity to criticise the European Union again, stating “they did not look beyond its on borders and left the fate of vaccinating people in our region to the possibility of a bilateral agreement.”
The subject of vaccines caused debates in Parliament as opposition MP Rudina Hajdari demanded transparency over the provision of the COVID-19 vaccine. While being asked to approve a normative act regarding Pfizer, she said that citizens have a right to know the terms of the agreement with Pfizer including how much they are worth and what the stages of delivery will be.
“We should inform citizens and not make decisions in locked rooms with 3-4 people,” she said.
MP Ralf Gjoni reiterated concerns and asked to be acquainted with the text of the normative act and not just to hear the title. He asked for transparency from the government before they were to vote on it.
“Is there a possibility of transparency, because we have a great responsibility as MPs to vote large amounts in the budget for vaccines, but the procedures must be made transparent,” he said.
Despite the concerns of MPs, the normative acts were approved. They are as follows:
Normative act for granting the authorisation of the Ministry of Health and Minister of State for Reconstruction to the producers of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Approval of the text of the agreement between Pfizer and the Ministry of Health, Institute of Public Health, and the Minister of State for Reconstruction for the authorisation of entry and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Approval of the signed agreement for the production and supply of the vaccine from Pfizer to the Ministry of Health and the Minister of State for Reconstruction.
