The much-discussed contract between the Albanian government and the pharmaceutical corporation "Pfizer" is provided exclusively by "Gogo.al". 

Regarding "Pfizer Export B.V" in the Netherlands and the Ministries of Health and Social Protection, and the State for Reconstruction, and the Institute of Public Health, the 52-page contract determines the amount, costs and conditions that must be met by the Albanian government. 

Through this confidential agreement, the Albanian government has bought from "Pfizer" for January 10.530 doses, paying 12 dollars for a dose. The contract also reveals the plan for the arrival of 30.420 doses in February, while in autumn and winter 458.640 others. 

In total, the Albanian government has signed with "Pfizer" the purchase of 499.590 doses but there will be practically no delivery of vaccines in Albania in March, April, May and June. Their distribution in the last months of the year also remains unclear. 

Total money we have to pay? About $ 6 million. It is not known why the government has planned this distribution of bills for vaccinations, between January, February and autumn and winter and if it is related to its payment capacity, while the thesis of "testing" on Albanians falls down as it is about two small preliminary purchases. One of the suspicions that circulated some time ago was the impossibility of production for Albania, while it remains questionable whether it was "Pfizer" that conditioned the Albanian government in these deliveries. 

In fact, under the contract, the Albanian government will pay USD 2,997,540 in advance within 30 days of receiving the invoice.

From a detailed review of the contract between the Albanian authorities of "Pfizer" and "BioNTech" based in Germany, it is learned that the latter will be responsible for all marketing requirements of the product. 

The Albanian government undertakes to maintain the confidentiality of the contract and intellectual property. 

The terms of the contract indicate that the Pfizer production sites in Kalamazoo (Michigan) and Puurs, Belgium, and the two BioNTech production sites in Mainz and Idar Oberstein in Germany will be where the vaccine will be produced but also other products that Pfizer judges. 

"Pfizer" is the guarantor to ensure that the product is produced in accordance with the specifications while the Albanian government has the following obligations regarding the care of vaccines: 

“(B) Upon delivery of the Product to the Buyer at the Place of Destination and, as far as applicable, for any further distribution and/or transportation to a destination other than a point of use of the Product, the Buyer shall maintain and treat the Product as specified in the Specifications, instructions in Appendix D and instructions provided by Pfizer to ensure the stability and integrity of the Product.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, Buyer shall bear all costs of using the Product after transfer from Pfizer to the Country of Destination, including but not limited to those for the storage of the Product and the distribution and administration of the Product (if applicable) in Albania. 

(d) The Buyer shall be solely responsible for the storage, handling, distribution, transportation, administration and use of the Product in Albania upon delivery of the Product to the Buyer or his designee at the Place of Destination. 

(e) The Buyer shall be responsible for ensuring that any equipment used to deliver the Product, for example the Shipper (s) and the Monitoring Equipment (s) are stored in a properly clean and safe place to protect and maintain the functionality of such equipment (under controlled conditions, without exposure to weather or pests, etc.). 

(f) Pfizer may provide the Buyer with Safety Data Sheets and other information to assist the Buyer in developing processes and procedures, including training, to handle the Product and Product Materials in a safe manner and in accordance with the Laws. The Buyer represents and guarantees that he himself will ensure that all Product Recipients and Product Materials have the necessary expertise to develop and implement appropriate procedures and training programs to enable proper handling of the Product and Product Materials in a safe and lawful manner. 

No vaccine side effects are mentioned but the contract is for what is called a "Reasonable Commercial Effort", which means that the risks involved in the pharmaceutical industry, uncertainties, limitations and challenges of developing, manufacturing, commercializing and distributing the new product are taken into account. COVID-19 vaccine, taking into account current factors and potential safety and efficacy issues, innovation, product profile, ownership position and current competitive environment for such a product.

(Source: Gogo.al)