Macedonia borrows 30,000 flu vaccine doses from Albania through UNICEF

The Ministry of Health of Macedonia secured the first 30,000 doses of the flu vaccine through a loan from Albania, facilitated by UNICEF. The ministry told “Sloboden Peçat” that the vaccines were obtained after the tender failed because no manufacturer submitted an offer.

According to the Ministry of Health, the first shipment was secured במסגרת international cooperation established among neighboring countries, in this case through UNICEF and Albania.

“Sloboden Peçat” reports that, according to official data confirmed by the ministry, around 30,000 doses of the trivalent flu vaccine have arrived in the country. The vaccine was produced by the South Korean company “GC Biopharma.” The vaccines are for 2026 and have been approved by the World Health Organization. A day earlier, it was announced that citizens could register online for vaccination via the published link.

Professor Dr. Dragan Danillovski commented to “Sloboden Peçat” on the vaccine that arrived from Albania through UNICEF. He also examined it because the vaccine is being used in Macedonia for the first time, and the country’s citizens have not previously been vaccinated with this product.

“Seasonal flu vaccination is about to begin. The public has finally been informed that the vaccines that have arrived are produced by the South Korean company ‘GC Biopharma.’ This is important information for citizens. It concerns a manufacturer whose flu vaccines have long been used internationally, while some of its products have been prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Prequalification means that the relevant product has undergone an established international process to assess its quality, safety and efficacy.

However, this is not the same as regulatory authorization for use in our country and does not replace the inspection of the specific batch delivered,” Danillovski said./Telegrafi/