The Croatian government decided on Friday to donate 566,428 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Africa and other countries in need.

The government tasked the Health Ministry with preparing and carrying out the donation together with the Public Health Institute and with concluding the necessary agreements and handover arrangements in line with EU guidelines.

The government also endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to spend an unutilised €346.9 million from the Emergency Support Instrument for the procurement of vaccines for third countries via the COVAX mechanism.

In 2020, at the Commission’s request, EU member states contributed €750 million from the Emergency Support Instrument for the procurement of 200 million doses of COVID vaccines for the member states, Health Minister Vili Beros said at a cabinet session.

The government also adopted a conclusion on the implementation of a framework agreement for procuring Veklury for the treatment of COVID patients who require additional oxygen.