A task force of Bosnia's Federation (FBiH) entity has extended the deadline for wholesalers to deliver their offers for the purchase of the coronavirus vaccine by Tuesday 4 pm, the FBiH Government confirmed on Monday.

The team consisting of competent officials and medical experts convened on Monday to discuss the stalemate in the vaccine procurement, which emerged after two previously selected wholesalers, MGM Farm Kakanj and Krajinagroup companies, failed to deliver necessary documents to the FBiH Health Institute by Monday, as agreed before.

The companies said they were unable to work under political and media pressure and meet the deadlines, asking for another 48 hours to deliver the documentation.

“We don't have that much time. One life is more worth than anything and we won't allow anyone to play with it, especially not to shift responsibility onto us. The FBiH Government made a mistake expecting the vaccines will be delivered through the COVAX. That is obviously not going to happen for now and the whole Europe is facing a serious problem,” FBiH Fadil Novalic said following the task force's meeting, which decided to consider the offers of other pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers.

In an urgent session held shortly after the task force's meeting, the FBiH Government acknowledged the information that the prime minister sent letters of intent to four other companies who will directly negotiate with vaccine producers. Those are: Bosnalijek (Sputnik V and AstraZeneca), Medimpex (AstraZeneca and Sputnik), Oktal Pharma (Johnson&Johnson, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V), Tuzla Farm (AstraZeneca and Sputnik V).

The FBiH Health Institute will review the offers that have to be delivered by Tuesday 4 pm, the Government said.