Transparency Serbia called the government to publish its coronavirus vaccination plans if it has drawn one up and release data on the procurement of medical supplies needed to treat coronavirus patients.
The organization said in an open letter to the Prime Minister that state officials have been making very different and highly imprecise statements about the priorities in the immunization plans. Transparency Serbia also called the government to allow the publication of all information on the procurement of medication, tests, medical and protective equipment required to treat coronavirus patients which the government has classified as strictly confidential.
“We are fully aware that the dynamics of the planned immunization will be greatly affected by the availability of vaccines on the world market which Serbian state bodies have no direct influence on. However, regardless of the availability of vaccines, we are convinced that a need exists to publish a document to allow the public to see clearly which groups of people are planned to be the priority in immunization in accord with available means,” the letter said.
It recalled that a large quantity of vaccine was not used during the swine flu pandemic several years ago and appealed to the government to define vaccine procurement needs based on advice from medical experts and public interest.