site.btaGovernment Signs Deal for 2.7 Million Pfizer Vaccine Doses, Considers Easing Anti-COVID Restrictions

Sofia, April 11 (BTA) - As a result of renegotiation, Bulgaria expects to receive 2.7 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 in April and May, or by the middle of June at the latest, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Sunday while inspecting the construction of a sport hall in the southern village of Topolovo, accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Krassen Kralev and Health Minister Kostadin Angelov.

Borissov said the news made him very happy. He added that over 3 million people will have been vaccinated in Bulgaria by May. "I am saying this because everything has been agreed and I would not like to hear other people claim the credit again." According to the Prime Minister, Bulgaria has also negotiated the supply of 2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses for its anti-COVID campaign, but this vaccine is not on the market yet.

"Vaccine prices are soaring," Borissov said. "The trade war is a fact. A shot of the Pfizer vaccine used to cost 12 euro. Now it costs 15.5 euro. The EU is in the process of signing agreements for 900 million vaccine doses for 2022-2023, but this time the price is 19.5 euro."

Health Minister Angelov said later in the day that the Bulgarian authorities are considering a further relaxation of restrictions amid declining COVID-19 incidence. According to Angelov, the drop in incidence shows that the measures are working. Prime Minister Borissov recommended that the possibility for audiences to be allowed to return to the stadiums could be considered.

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A total of 1,352 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed on Saturday by 9,118 tests, show data posted on coronavirus.bg.

The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has decreased from 812 to 801. The total number of hospitalized patients, however, went up during the day from 10,271 to 10,365.

A total of 43 people died on Saturday, bringing the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 14,351. A total of 930 people recovered in 24 hours. There are 71,381 active cases remaining.

The total number of vaccines administered since the start of the immunization campaign has reached 571,062, and both doses have been administered to 112,978 people. A total of 3,666 people were inoculated on Saturday, of whom 2,490 received the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine, 228 got the AstraZeneca vaccine and 948 - Moderna. MY/VE