Another contingent of Pfizer vaccines has arrived in Montenegro, out of a total of 42,000 doses which will be donated to Montenegro by the European Union by the end of August. The delivery of the vaccines was funded by the aid package worth 70m euros, adopted by the European Commission in December 2020 to help Western Balkan partners cover the cost of purchasing the vaccines. The distribution and delivery of vaccines was made possible by the Republic of Austria, by concluding legal arrangements with the manufacturer and partners from the region.
The new contingent of Pfizer’s vaccines was welcomed at the Podgorica airport by the EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Kristina Popa, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Montenegro Ana Janković and the Minister of Health Jelena Borovinić Bojović.
Ambassador Popa pointed out that since the beginning of the pandemic, the European Union has provided Montenegro with over 115 million euros in grants and favourable loans.
“This money has helped protect medical workers, improve the health of citizens and save thousands of jobs. Vaccine donations are another way in which the European Union and its Member States show solidarity with the citizens of Montenegro. I call on all citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible and thus protect themselves and their loved ones. The European Union is with you,” she said.
Austria has been cooperating intensively with the European Commission to enable the distribution of vaccines against COVID-19 to the Western Balkans and has taken on the role of coordinator in this project.
“I am extremely glad that today we are receiving another tranche of Pfizer vaccines, which will continue to arrive on weekly basis until the end of August. We hope that, with the support of constant shipments of vaccines, Montenegro will successfully implement its immunization strategy and be well prepared for the summer season,” said Ambassador Janković.
She reminded that three patients from Montenegro, suffering from COVID-19, were treated in Austrian hospitals.
“We are aware that no one is safe until everyone is safe. Blank areas on the vaccination map, wherever they might be, are a danger to all of us. That is why we hope that in the future we will have the opportunity to distribute even more vaccines, when they become available,” the Austrian ambassador emphasized.
Minister Borovinić Bojović once again called on the citizens to get vaccinated because, as she said, it is the most efficient way to protect their own and the health of their closest ones, but also the entire nation.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the European Union for the great solidarity and friendship it has shown to all Western Balkan countries, and especially on my personal behalf and on the behalf of the Government and Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, I would like to thank Ambassadors Popa and Janković. They lent a helping hand to Montenegro in a delicate situation and showed selfless friendship and helped the arrival of vaccines to our country,” the minister said.
