Filenews 15 January 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
Moderate, with regard to the speed of implementation of the vaccination programme in Cyprus, the scientific associate of the medical services on vaccination issues, Professor Christos Petrou, was presented, reiterating, during a press conference several times, that vaccinations depend on the speed and quantity of vaccines delivered in Cyprus.
He stressed that, "the programme is being implemented on the basis of planning", but explained, "there are currently 8 vaccination centres in combination with mobile units and the number of vaccination points will increase depending on the vaccines available to us."
Asked if our vaccination capacity would be increased by receiving the first quantities of the Moderna vaccine, Mr Peter said that "1,200 doses were received, corresponding to the vaccination of 600 people in the coming days. It is not one of the vaccines that will significantly increase the quantities to change the situation, it just increases the number around 10%".
On whether the delay in approving the Astra Zeneca vaccine has also caused a delay in the implementation of the vaccination programme, Mr. Petrou said that, "the planning for Astra Zeneca said that there would be 120,000 doses available by the end of 2020 and the rest were for the first quarter of 2021. However, we will have to wait for approval, but no one can predict what the delivery plan will be."
Regarding this vaccine, he said that, "the data we know is that the Astra Zeneca vaccine has been tested in populations up to 55 years of age. We don't know all the data in the clinical study, these were submitted to the EMA. But that does not mean that this will prohibit vaccination of a population at an older age. Therefore, we will have to wait to see the final characteristics and depending on whether there is a restriction in one age group then this group will get another vaccine."
For the national vaccination plan, it stated that "the majority of vaccinations on nursing homes and frontline health professionals have been completed, while vaccination of people over the age of 80 and primary health care professionals (paediatricians, oncologists, gynaecologists, etc.) has begun". By last Sunday, "a total of 6,035 people had been given doses and by Sunday, Cyprus was 8th in EU countries in vaccine administration". The practice we "follow is to make the vaccine available immediately and to make appointments according to the quantities arriving each week, but our practice is to keep half the doses so that they are given to the same people for the 2nd dose".
