As reported earlier by LSM, vaccine deliveries at medical establishments have been delayed this week due to a change in the vaccine supplier.
According to the Health Ministry, on the evening of March 10, the representative of Oribalt Ltd refused to name the vaccination points to which the vaccines have been delivered, and was unable to explain the exact plans for the delivery of vaccines on March 11 and 12. The spokesman for Oribalt Ltd categorically rejected the alternative solutions offered by the Ministry to supply vaccines, under the pretext of the end of the working hours and proposing to continue to address the situation on the morning of March 11.
Oribalt, which took on the duty on March 8 this year, received 21,600 vaccines from manufacturers that evening. According to the contract, vaccines had to be delivered to at least 100 vaccination offices in Rīga and Pierīga within eight hours, as well as 50 vaccination offices in the eastern region and 50 offices in the western region.
Information received by noon Thursday showed that on March 9, vaccines were delivered to one vaccination office, on March 10 to 37.
The Ministry has therefore decided to end the contract with the supplier. Health Minister Pavļuts said that the Health Ministry's responsible services are currently trying to resolve the situation and find a new solution for the vaccine supplies.
Gints Čanders, Head of the Legal Department of the National Health Service, told Latvian Radio that negotiations are ongoing on the termination of the contract: “The contract requires them to provide immediately, within one hour, all information on the vaccines in their warehouses and on the planned actual deliveries to these vaccination authorities. (…) The service provider could not provide us with such information. We're trying to figure out what's going on and how they continue to make deliveries. In parallel, we are dealing with the termination. We will prepare a contract notice today. I think if they accept this decision immediately, we will be able to terminate the contract today."
The Ministry will inform medical establishments and residents about delayed vaccines and new delivery times on Thursday. Pavļuts also said he had asked the State Police to monitor the deliveries by Oribalt, as the supplier had not been able to provide explanations.
