Bosnia and Herzegovina is expecting some 80,000 AstraZeneca doses by end of April and about 100,000 Pfizer doses by end of June through the COVAX system, Civil Affairs Minister Ankica Gudeljevic said on Wednesday, following a meeting with competent officials at lower levels of authority with whom she discussed the vaccine procurement and epidemiological situation in the country.

“We are working on speeding up the delivery of the remaining quantities of vaccines to BiH in the second quarter (of the year). We are having constant communication with representatives of COVAX system and all those involved in the procurement of vaccines,” said Gudeljevic, adding that 81,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are expected by April 23, while 100,620 Pfizer doses are expected by the end of June.

Bosnia has to this date received two shipments of about 50,000 vaccines out of the total of 1.2 million doses it purchased through COVAX mechanism. Other vaccines that have so far arrived in the country include donations from Serbia and Turkey, while the announced donations from China and Slovenia are still being expected.

Also, BiH is expecting the delivery from the European Union mechanisms as soon as in the second quarter of the year. Gudeljevic explained that the process of vaccine delivery for the Western Balkans is being coordinated by Austria and that Bosnia will get about 120,000 vaccines within this system.

She also briefly noted that Poland has offered 380,000 doses of AstraZeneca to BiH, without specifying the delivery dates or any other details.

Gudeljevic met with prime ministers and health ministers from Bosnia's two semi-autonomous regions, the Federation and Republika Srpska, as well as other relevant officials involved in the epidemic management and procurement of vaccines.

Besides the vaccine procurement, the officials also discussed the possibility of introducing a negative PCR test as a condition for entry in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the idea was dismissed.

“After we heard the stances of experts on this matter we concluded that there is no need at the moment for PCR tests and other entry restrictions,” she said, adding that all citizens, as well as those who might arrive in Bosnia, should obey the measures that are already in effect.