The European Commission is working on setting up an EU mechanism to facilitate the sharing of vaccine procured by the member states through the EU's advanced purchase agreement to other countries, an EC spokesperson told N1, adding that the vaccine sharing system would pay special attention to the Western Balkans.

According to the same source, vaccine sharing will be preferably conducted through the COVAX system.

“COVAX is the best vehicle for delivering on international vaccine solidarity and we welcome first deliveries are already taking place.  To date, Team Europe has announced over €2.2 billion for the COVAX Facility to help secure 1.3 billion doses of vaccination for 92 low and middle-income countries by the end of the year,” EC Spokesperson Ana Pisonero told N1.

The information comes at the moment when Bosnia and Herzegovina is still awaiting the delivery of more than a million Pfizer doses it purchased through the COVAX system.

As Bosnia has become one of the rare countries in the region and Europe that has not started the mass inoculation, the authorities started considering the purchase through direct deals with producers and other mechanisms.

One of those mechanisms is the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) as confirmed by Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Turkovic said a certain amount of vaccines is expected apart from COVAX and will be paid via IPA funding.

The Austrian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed to N1 that the country is strongly advocating the vaccine sharing from the EU’s stocks for the Western Balkan countries but they could not specify the details of the process.

“Austria is closely cooperating in this with other partners and the European Commission. The EU must show a tangible sign of solidarity, especially during crisis periods. It is still too soon to present specific numbers and data regarding the planned deliveries for each country,” the Embassy said.