Almost 35.000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, out of the 40.000 that were purchased and delivered in mid-October last year, will be destroyed due to the expired deadline.
"Montefarm" told "Vijesta" that in their warehouse there are 16.790 doses of the Gam COVID-Vac Component vaccine and 18.080 other doses for revaccination that have expired.
They pointed out that after summarizing the number of doses of the expired Sputnik V vaccine withdrawn from the vaccination points, they will be sent for destruction, according to the standard procedure.
"Vijesti" announced this last month as well, given that the deadline for using these vaccines was February 28. However, during the whole of February, not a single dose was sent to the vaccination point from the Montefarma warehouse due to the low interest of the citizens.
On October 15, a contingent of 40.000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines arrived in Montenegro, which, as announced by the Ministry of Health, completed the delivery of a total of 10.000 vaccines from the Russian manufacturer, with 50.000 delivered earlier.
At the time, the Ministry said that it was the result of bilateral negotiations between that department, that is, the Government of Montenegro, with an expert team consisting of competent representatives of the Russian Government and vaccine manufacturers. They pointed out that 20.000 citizens, who are eagerly awaiting Sputnik V, will receive vaccines.
However, in four and a half months, no more than 2.500 people received this vaccine.
The Ministry of Health did not say how much the vaccines were paid for, and they explained that all procurement contracts are marked with a level of secrecy because this is the practice of the manufacturers.
The opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) announced earlier that 50.000 dollars were paid for 19,9 doses of Sputnik V, that is, almost a million in total, which the authorities did not deny.
Sputnik V is the first vaccine against coronavirus that was used in Montenegro.
Consent for the import of the Russian vaccine was issued on February 11 last year, and the vaccination of priority groups - the elderly and medical personnel - began ten days later.
With the arrival of the contingent of Chinese vaccines, as well as those registered in the territory of the European Union, but above all with the delay in the delivery of Sputnik V, the citizens' interest in receiving the Russian vaccine has significantly decreased.
Significant decline in interest in vaccination
In recent months, there has been a decline in interest in immunization against covid-19 in general, so in the past two months, only 17.000 citizens received the third booster dose.
Epidemiologist of the Institute for Public Health (IJZ) Adis Martinović told TV Vijesti that this is a significant drop, after the New Year, probably because gatherings have passed and the cancellation of covid certificates has been announced.
He, however, clarified that confirmation is one thing, and vaccination is another matter, and that citizens should be vaccinated for their health.
"The recommendations for vaccination with the third dose still stand, as long as there is coronavirus and citizens get sick and die," said Martinović.
Since February of last year, Montenegro has bought or received more than 1.300.000 doses of vaccines against the coronavirus through donations.
According to the Ministry of Health, 624.000 doses were provided through donations.
As of March 12 this year, 665.962 doses of the vaccine were consumed. 95.937 citizens received the third, or booster dose.
During the last year, more than 25.000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, whose expiration date was August or the end of October, were also destroyed due to the expiration date.
"Montefarm" previously said that among the remaining vaccines there is Comirnaty (Pfizer), more precisely three series whose expiration date is March 31, April 30 and May 31 of this year.
The term of use of these vaccines was extended from six to nine months, after research that showed that its quality is adequate not only within half a year from the date of production, but also three months later.
That approval is also valid at the level of the European Union, so all doses produced after March of this year will have a printed expiration date of nine months.
The deadline for using the Moderna vaccine, which was donated to Montenegro by Slovenia, is April 3, April 5 and April 16 this year.
VeroCell (Sinofarm) and Sinovac vaccines are also available to citizens, whose expiration dates expire on March 15, 2023, or May 29, 2023, and July 8, 2024.
Vaccination at the Music Center can also be done at home by invitation
The vaccination point of the Music Center will start working tomorrow, while the residents of Podgorica cannot be vaccinated in Delta and the Military Medical Center since yesterday.
The Health Center in Podgorica announced that they decided to take this step due to the current epidemiological situation, and due to the focus of vaccination, which is now on mobile vaccination teams.
They invited citizens to contact the Health Center on the available phone numbers and call center and schedule a visit by the mobile vaccination team and receive the vaccine in their home.
"We remind you that by protecting ourselves by vaccination, we also protect others around us, and this is the best way to jointly respond to covid-19, thereby showing responsibility and stopping the pandemic," emphasized the Podgorica Health Center.
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