Filenews 24 February 2021
"Cyprus is on its way to completing one of its main objectives in terms of vaccination coverage of the population for COVID-19," the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
It should be noted that "in particular and in line with the initial target, set since December, Cyprus is at the fore among the Member States of the European Union in vaccination, at least with the 1st dose of the vaccine, of people aged 80 years and over. Having made it a priority to safeguard the health of the elderly and following the recommendations of the European Commission to protect this sensitive group of the population, the National Vaccination Plan, in addition to the short-term objective of protecting the elderly, aims to reduce hospitalizations and deaths and discharge the Health System.
In this context, Cyprus is one of the first countries to reach the European Union's vaccination target of at least 80% of health professionals by March, and is one of the countries that has already started vaccinating high-risk groups. At the same time, the Ministry of Health, in order to protect bedridden people, has established a procedure for vaccinating them at home or in their place of residence, through mobile vaccination units.
The Department of Health's priority through the Vaccination Plan is to protect high-risk groups of the population, as a study by the Scottish Public Health Centre shows that the results of almost 1.5 million people in the EU are more than 1.5 million. vaccinations have shown that a dose of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines is effective and significantly reduces hospital admissions. According to the same study, up to the 4th week after taking the 1st dose, Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines were shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 by up to 85% and 94%, respectively. Compared to people aged 80 and over, which is one of the highest risk groups for severe disease, vaccination was associated with an 81% reduction in the risk of hospitalization at week 4, when the results for both vaccines were combined. Similarly encouraging are the data recorded in a study conducted in Israel, according to which Pfizer's vaccine is 95.8% effective in preventing infection two weeks after vaccination with the 2nd dose, 99.2% in the prevention of serious forms of the disease and 98.9% in the prevention of death. At the same time, British research showed that the risk of infection with the virus is reduced by 85% after the 2nd dose.
Over 64,000 vaccinations by 23 February in Cyprus
The vaccination plan is progressing smoothly and the country is accelerating rates, increasing vaccination coverage for citizens and vulnerable groups, alongside vaccination by age. A total of 64,562 vaccinations were carried out by 23 February, of which 44,239 were for people who received the 1st dose of the vaccine and 20,323 for those who completed their vaccination (2nd dose).
Vaccinations are carried out in nine Vaccination Centres in all provinces, out of a total of 20 workshops. Two large Vaccination Centres are in operation, at the State Fair, Nicosia, and at the Sports Centre "Spyros Kyprianou" in Limassol with a capacity of 15 and 10 workshops respectively. This week they start their operation Vaccination Centres in Paphos and Larnaca, with a capacity of seven workshops each. In full development of the Vaccination Centres, up to 15,000 vaccinations per day will be able to be carried out.
It is recalled that so far, the European Medicines Agency has licensed three vaccines, AstraZeneca, Pfizer's Comirnaty and Moderna's vaccine, have crossed the safety and efficacy bar. As standard practice, our country procures vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, as the EU's materially competent authority for the evaluation, authorisation and authorisation of medicinal products. In view of Johnson&Johnson's vaccine licensing in March and according to the information from the manufacturers, it is expected that in March more than 160,000 doses of the three vaccines will be sent, with the flow increasing in the second quarter of the year.
Summary data on vaccination
- A total of 64,562 vaccinations were carried out by 23 February, of which 44,239 were for people who received the 1st dose of the vaccine and 20,323 for those who completed their vaccination (2nd dose).
- Vaccination of people aged 71 and over is ongoing.
- Vaccinations are carried out in nine Vaccination Centres in all Provinces, out of a total of 20 workshops. This week they start their operation Vaccination Centres in Paphos and Larnaca. In full development of the Vaccination Centres, up to 15,000 vaccinations per day can be carried out".
Source: eyenews
