Nova ekonomija: Russian and Chinese covid vaccines alone were paid EUR 106 million

In 2021, Serbia paid over 106 million euros for Russian and Chinese vaccines against the coronavirus. The total import of vaccines for human use increased by almost 160 million euros, which is most likely also the total allocation for the procurement of all the vaccines against COVID-19 last year, Nova ekonomija reports.

The total import of vaccines last year was 180.6 million euros, according to the data obtained by the Nova ekonomija magazine from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, which is said to be an annual increase of about 850 percent.

The annual import of vaccines for human use has averaged about ten million euros in the past five years, and in 2020 it was almost twice as high, 19 million euros.

The value of this exchange in 2020 most likely, according to Nova ekonomija, increased precisely because of the beginning of the import of vaccines against the coronavirus in December that year.

For example, the value of the import of vaccines from Belgium where the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine is produced has doubled.

However, a significantly higher increase in import was recorded in 2021 when the mass vaccination campaign began.

A total of 58 tons of vaccines were imported from China, worth 82.1 million euros, and from the Russian Federation, eight tons worth 24 million euros.

Izvor: Nova ekonomija

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