First of all, if you have an elderly friend or neighbour [who is in the 80+ age bracket] please offer your assistance to help them through the process of registering for the vaccine on the GESY system. The age brackets have changed today, so from now on vaccinations will be for the 90+ group, then in two-year age bands, starting with 88-89, then 86-87, etc. There is at least one GP in Paphos who is working very hard to help the older residents through the process, but some are not. Some of the older residents may be unaware of the vaccination programme, or be sat waiting for a phone call to tell them when their appointment will be. It may be that some are not GESY registered - in which case please see how they can register for the vaccine at the end of this article.
Please bear in mind that the portal and medical record can be linked NOW - you do not have to wait for the appropriate age group to be released for appointments.
LINKING YOUR PORTAL AND MEDICAL RECORD
In preparation for rollout of the vaccine programme over the coming months, if you have not already done so, please link your individual portal account with the beneficiary record/beneficiary medical history. This is an ideal job to do during lockdown.
To do this [it looks complicated, but once you have the codes to start the process it takes a few minutes]:
1 Make sure you have your GESY User Name and Password to hand
2 Phone your GP and ask them for a verification code [this is Verification Code 1] - after asking some personal questions to check who is calling, they will give you a number over the phone. This code is valid for 24 hours only
3 Check your emails - you should have an email from GESY with an additional verification code [this is verification code 2]. There should be a link on this email to your portal on GESY. Again, this code is valid for 24 hours only.
4 Click on the link [input your GESY user name and password] and you will be asked to input a one off code which will have been sent to you on your mobile phone [you only have a short period of time to use this, 5 minutes, so be prepared]
5 Input under Verification code 1 the code which the GPs surgery gave you over the phone
6 Input under Verification code 2 the code which was emailed to you
Your record should then be linked to your beneficiary record/medical history.
You should then be able to see your 'Dashboard' and should have a series of images down the left-hand side of the screen. To the right of these images you will find your personal data, your GPs details, and you can view your medical record.
If you are not sure if your records have been linked, please log onto your GESY account GESY using your User Name and password.
You will be asked for a one off code which will be sent to you on your mobile phone - you have 5 minutes to use this.
You should then be able to see your records and personal information - and there will be a number of icons shown on the left hand side of the screen, including a syringe [for the vaccination portal]. Once you can see these icons, your records have been linked.
GESY LOG IN PROCEDURE TO BOOK FOR VACCINATION
Currently for 90+age bracket only.
1. Call up “GESY LOGIN PAGE” on internet. GESY LOG IN
2. Enter your personal Username & Password on Login page, then select “Login”.
3. Enter Two-Factor code number received on your mobile phone [valid for 5 minutes only], then select “Confirm”. Remember, you will need to ensure that your beneficiary file has been linked to your medical record before you can proceed further - it is recommended that you organise the links and carry out this process before you go onto the system to book a vaccine appointment.
4. Before progressing further, on the dashboard page that then opens, confirm from your Beneficiary record / personal details page
· The registration details of your date of birth.
· The registration details of your full name. e.g. did you include any middle names.
· Your original means of registration, i.e. Aliens Registration Certificate or I.D. Card.
· Your Aliens Registration Certificate Number or I.D Card Number
Please take a written note of the above details to ensure you input them exactly into the system when required.
5. Thereafter Select “Covid 19 Vaccination” from the open Dashboard page
This is the disclaimer on the vaccine appointment booking site that you need to be aware of and may need to consult your physician for advice/confirmation:
I intend to arrange my COVID-19 vaccination appointment online. The vaccine is used to prevent from COVID-19 disease. It stimulates the body’s natural production of antibodies and the immune system’s response for the protection against the disease.
By arranging this appointment, I hereby confirm that:
- I fully understand the benefits of vaccination and the risks of non-vaccination. As for all medicines and vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine is likely to cause side effects, most of which are mild, of short duration and do not occur in all people.
- I understand that in the rare case of anaphylaxis, emergency treatment will be provided to me.
- I understand that I cannot take the vaccine if I am allergic to any of the active substances of the vaccine or any of its other ingredients.
I understand that I cannot proceed with the arrangement of a vaccination appointment and with my vaccination for COVID-19 if I do not firstly consult my Personal Doctor, in case that I have at least one of the symptoms below:
- Weakened immunization system, as a result of HIV infection or because of a medicine that I take and which infects my immune system.
- Bleeding problems, easily bruising or use of anticoagulants.
- I have had a severe allergic reaction in the past.
- I am taking or having taken any other medicines or vaccines recently.
7. On “Book an Appointment” page that then opens - have your written notes from earlier to hand:
· Fill in first/ middle and last name as previously found on Beneficiary record page
· Select either ID card or Alien Registration Certificate, from drop down menu
· Enter Identity Document number as previously found on Beneficiary record page
· Enter date of Birth as previously found on Beneficiary record page, e.g 14/04/1930.
· Select “Search”.
8. On Book an appointment page that then opens
· Select “Pafos” from the dropdown menu [will be in Greek - Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Πάφου]
· Then select Search
· “Pafos “once more has to be selected from the dropdown menu, a calendar should be displayed with available hours to book. Click on the available slot or click on the select date and time button to change.
Request new appointment window appears. You then have to fill all mandatory fields [appointment time and date, beneficiary's district, mobile phone no and/or email address in the new appointment window and click Confirm Appointment.
The system will then process all input data and will say if the appointment has been booked successfully. You will also receive an SMS to the mobile no entered confirming the appointment details [in Greek]. There will probably be a time lag between you completing the procedure and an SMS coming through so do not be surprised if you do not get an immediate SMS.
SMS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE
ΕΠΙΒΕΒΑΙΩΣΗ ΠΑΝΤΕΒΟΥ ΓΙΑ ΕΜΒΟΛΙΑΣΜΟ [Day, Date, Time] ΣΤΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΚΥ ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΟ ΠΑΦΟΥ
In English, this translates to:
Confirmation of appointment for vaccination [day, date, time] at the centre General Hospital of Paphos
NB. If you have any doubt about the booking procedure having been completed correctly, you can now freely repeat the process, since there is no possibility of double booking.
The worst that can occur, is that an error notice will be displayed indicating that a further appointment cannot be booked prior to the first vaccine dose being administered.
Remember, if you do not fall into the age category for whom vaccine is available, you will not be able to access the Vaccine system. You will only be able to gain access if you are making an appointment on behalf of a person who does qualify.
If you try and log into the vaccine portal you will get a message that there is no vaccine available if there are no available slots and you will be unable to proceed further.
From experience gained, booking slots initially appear for the forthcoming week at 9am on a Monday morning. Appointments are booked quickly.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER ON THE SAME DAY [providing you are both in the same age group], IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU SELECT TIMES A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY SO HOPEFULLY WHEN YOUR PARTNER GOES THROUGH THE PROCEDURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU, YOU CAN FIND SPACE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME ON THE RELEVANT DATE. If you select the early appointments of the day, there is no guarantee that there will be space for your partner when they go through the system.
Thanks to John Moffat for the above notes.
ACCESS TO THE GESY USER MANUAL
The manual below can be found on the GESY site - GESY LOG IN
Input your user name and password and you will be sent a one off code on your mobile phone [you will have 5 minutes to use this]. Input this code.
On the left hand side you will see various images - scroll down to the bottom and click on the ?
You will then see in the top right hand corner - User Manuals.
Click on User Manuals - and you can then download the manual for Covid-19 vaccine appointment - as shown below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND SOME MISCONCEPTIONS
There appears to be some misinformation circulating.
1 What is the portal? I do not know what you are talking about. The portal is effectively the entrance to the GESY system which is the equivalent of your medical file. The entrance part of the portal relates to your personal information [name, date of birth, address, contact details].
The first step that you need to take is to link the portal, ie your personal information, with your medical file online. Until this has been done, you will not be able to access the vaccine booking system. There are separate instructions as to how you can link the two records, and there is also a Help guide on the GESY site once you have input your system log-in details to gain access to your personal information.
2 I am waiting for the Government to ring me to tell me when my appointment will be. The Government will not ring you to tell you when your vaccination appointment will be. As this is the process in the UK, some think that it applies in Cyprus also. It does not. Appointments must be obtained via the GESY system online. In addition, the Government is currently only inviting appointments from those who are aged 90+.
3 You have to travel to the UK to obtain your vaccination if you are a UK expat. This is not the case. Vaccination against Covid will be provided in Cyprus under GESY.
4 What about the quality of the vaccine? Before any vaccine is given to any resident, the European Union has a procedure which has to be followed to check the claims of the drug rigorously before they will authorise its use in the EU. There are then procedures in place to check batches of the vaccine to ensure that standards are maintained. Only EU approved vaccines will be used by any country in the EU.
5 I am not registered for GESY as I can afford to fund any medical treatment required privately and/or I am not registered as a permanent resident of Cyprus anyway. If you are not a member of GESY, there is a process to follow so you can obtain a vaccine. [see below] It is not possible to purchase the vaccine separately. The Covid vaccine is only available through GESY. You will only be able to arrange an appointment once your application has been approved, AND you fall within the age group being offered the vaccine. So, if you are 76, you will have to wait for your appointment until the vaccine is opened up to those 75+ but please apply for a permit now as it is not known how long the approval process will take.
6 There is no provision for the vaccine on my GESY record. Unless you have linked your GESY portal account with your beneficiary record/medical history, you will not be able to move to the next step of booking a vaccine appointment. The records must be linked to enable you to move to the next stage. Once your records are linked, you will see the vaccine icon [a syringe] on the left hand side of the page. Remember the system will not allow you to book an appointment unless you fall within the correct age group.
7 I am 79 and keep on getting rejected by the system when I try and book an appointment. This is because currently vaccinations can only be booked by those aged 90+. The system will block anyone who is under age 90 from booking an appointment, although it is possible for a younger person to access the system to book an appointment for someone who is 90+.
The age band has been sub-categorised as it is felt that this will allow fairer access to the vaccine. The next band to be released will be the 88-89 age bracket, then the 86-87, and so on, in two-year bands. Once the new age-band is released, anyone over that age who has still to register will still be able to do so, but anyone under the age of the nominated age range will be blocked.
8 I saw that bookings were available from Monday 18th January, at 9am. I tried at mid-day and the system told me that there was no vaccine. As delivery of the vaccine is erratic, appointment slots are only released according to the quantity of vaccine which has been delivered [with half of each delivery being retained for the second dose]. As demand is high, the available slots are being snapped up very quickly. Keep an eye open for when the next slots will be available [usually a Monday at 9am] and aim to be onto the system promptly! BUT please ensure you have linked your portal account with your beneficiary record/medical history [this can be done now, you don't have to wait until appointment slots are released for your age group] otherwise you will not be able to book an appointment. Remember, appointments are being released according to your age - currently 90+, then it will be 88-89, then 86-87, etc.
9 My wife and I want to book appointments for the same time. Is this possible? Yes - if you both fall in the same age group, but would suggest that you book an appointment later in the day so you can guarantee that the two of you can go at the same time. If one of you grabs an appointment at, say, 9am, it may be that by the time your partner goes onto the system, all appointments around this time will have gone. You will both need to access the system either at the same time [if you have two devices] or one immediately after the other.
10 I am unsure if I should be having the vaccine in view of the medication/medical treatment I am taking/undergoing. What should I do? It is essential that you speak to your GP/medical practitioner for guidance before you book an appointment. There is a disclaimer on the system which you will need to read and accept before you can book your appointment.
11 I have a couple of allergies. Will it be ok for me to have the vaccine? Again, you must speak to your GP/medical practitioner before you book an appointment. When you have your appointment you will be asked if you have any allergies before they give you the injection. If you carry an epi pen, please ensure you have it with you, just in case.
12 I have successfully booked my appointment to have the vaccine. I understand that I need to have two Covid tests to ensure I do not have the virus before the appointment, and that I have to pay for these tests myself. Once you have your booked appointment, there is nothing more for you to do. You certainly do NOT need 2 Covid tests before you can have the vaccine. When you go for your vaccine appointment, you will need a form of identification with you [passport, ID card, or MEU document, plus GESY paperwork]. You will be asked about any allergies, be given the vaccine, and be allocated your appointment for your second and final dose of the vaccine. If you do have allergies and have an epi pen, it is recommended that you have this with you. As mentioned in 10 and 11 above, you must check with your doctor if you have any concerns about whether or not you should have the vaccine.
WHEN YOU HAVE HAD YOUR FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE, YOU WILL BE HANDED THE FOLLOWING:
OBTAINING THE COVID VACCINATION IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF GESY
Citizens not registered on the General Healthcare System’s (GESY) portal who wish to be vaccinated within the framework of the National Vaccinations Plan for Covid-19, must submit a duly completed document to register on Cyprus Portal for Covid-19 Vaccinations.
This form can be found in a downloadable format on the website of the Ministry of Health and the Press and Information Office’s website on coronavirus. - Coronavirus - vaccine
The Document must be submitted together with a copy of the interested party’s Identification Card, Alien Registration Card or other identification document [eg passport], as well as a copy of that person’s medical card, if applicable.
All documents should be sent to the Ministry of Health, by email to covidvac@moh.gov.cy, by post to the following address: 1 Prodromou and 17 Chilonos, 1449 Nicosia, or delivered by hand to the Medical Card Sector, Ministry of Health, 1 Prodromou and 17 Chilonos, Nicosia.
After carrying out a validity check for the application and upon its approval, the Ministry of Health will activate the applicant’s possibility to register on the Covid-19 Vaccinations Portal. However, you will only be able to book an appointment once you fall within the approved age category.
The applicant will be informed of the Ministry of Health’s decision to approve or reject his/her request, so as to access the Covid-19 Vaccinations Online Portal in order to arrange an appointment for the vaccination, at a Vaccination Centre, at the date and time of his/her convenience - and when the applicant falls into the approved age category.
