Our goal is to procure as soon as possible a functional vaccine. With the exception of the U.S. and the UK, all other NATO members are facing issues when it comes to vaccine procurement. In that regard, we’re part of a global challenge, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska said Monday at the Gjorche Petrov barracks.
“The connection between vaccines and NATO is not the most logical one, but does entail an element of security. At the last meeting, several member states said that we’re all facing a serious lack of vaccines. With the exception of the U.S. and the UK, all other NATO members are having vaccine procurement challenges. In that regard, we’re part of a global issue. It’s especially hard for small countries when we meet with manufacturers, due to the small amount of vaccines we need. Even the EU was faced with a similar issue during negotiations with vaccine producers,” Shekerinska told reporters during the handover ceremony of US donation consisted of 1,269 M4 automatic rifles to Army of the Republic of North Macedonia.
However, she added, vaccine procurement is top priority.
“Our goal, as you know, is to procure as soon as possible a functional vaccine. We’ll take all steps necessary to get closer to this goal. However, most EU and NATO members, as well as other countries, are facing issues when it comes to vaccine procurement,” Shekerinska noted.
She said that the the issue with the deposit for the procurement of Chinese is not under her authority, stressing the government’s transparency and the fact that it doesn’t withhold from the public information on the challenges it faces.
“Most EU member states, a group of countries that was supposed to set the pace in this process, are facing the same issues regarding vaccine procurement. The good thing is that health workers, who are on the front lines, are getting vaccinated. The Health Ministry and the immunization group produced a good vaccination plan. Next in line to get inoculated are members of the Army and the police. Our priorities are objective and will allow for faster immunization once we have vaccines,” the Defence Minister added.
