The Chinese producer of COVID-19 vaccines Sinopharm has refunded the money the Macedonian government paid in advance for procurement of around 200,000 vaccines. From the Health Ministry they inform that upon request by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they money was returned to Macedonia due to necessity of processes for further mutual adaptation of the documentation between the Foreign Ministries of both countries. From the Health ministry they deny the claims in certain media that the contract for procurement of the vaccines is cancelled. Health Minister Venko Filipce said that the government continues with intense negotiations with China, as well with Russia, for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines in the upcoming period.