Thousands of vaccine-seekers from countries neighbouring Serbia flocked to Belgrade on March 27 after the Serbian authorities offered foreigners free coronavirus jabs if they showed up over the weekend.

Numerous people from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia — often entire families — waited in front of the main vaccination centre in Belgrade, which was guarded by police.

Serbia has been a standout success in the region in securing vaccines — from multiple sources — and has achieved one of the fastest vaccination rollouts in Europe. 

The country plans to start producing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine this spring and may also set up production of the Chinese vaccine. As well as vaccinating its own population, Serbia has helped several of its neighbours start their own vaccination programmes. 

“Belgrade becoming the centre of the region again,” commented Belgrade deputy mayor Goran Vesic.

According to Vesic, the invitation to people from neighbouring countries to get vaccinated in Belgrade will not affect the vaccination process in Serbia.

In addition, the president of Serbia's Chamber of Commerce (PKS), Marko Cadez, said that 7,500 businesspeople from the region were on the list for vaccination in Belgrade and Nis.

“The vaccination of businessmen from the region does not affect the process of vaccination of Serbian citizens, since the Serbian Chamber of Commerce procured vaccines through a special fund,” he stressed.