Filenews 8 April 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
In fact, they also showed yesterday their reluctance to be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Cypriot citizens, since despite the fact that as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday there were almost 16,000 appointments available, the Vaccination Portal closed yesterday at 7, with about 10,000 doses of this company's vaccine remaining unclaimed.
In particular, of the 19,378 appointments made available two days ago to citizens over the age of 61, 910 appointments with the Moderna vaccine and 2,800 with Pfizer had been arranged in the first few minutes of the portal. By midday yesterday, 3,490 appointments had been arranged with the AstraZeneca vaccine out of the 15,668 made available with this vaccine, demonstrating that the previous day's announcements by the European Medicines Agency on the link between the vaccine and rare cases of thrombosis in various countries in recent times, and its simultaneous assurances on the safety of this formulation , probably did not reassure the citizens at all.
At the same time, European countries, one after the other, announce a differentiation of their vaccination programmes while Cyprus remains stable in its planning, while last night the Ministry of Health announced that due to the technical problems presented in the electronic vaccination portal, the system will be operational in the coming days, only for certain ages, in order to avoid the mass entry of citizens for appointment arrangements.
Thoughts, however, seem to be made by Cypriot scientists who yesterday left open the possibility of studying the data and proceeding, if invited, to specific suggestions, while describing the citizens' concerns as justified.
"If we are called to position ourselves scientifically, we will do so," the Scientific Adviser of the Ministry of Health on vaccinations for the crown, Christos Petrou, told "in addition to the results of the evaluation of the European Medicines Agency there is no other data to comment on".
Justified, for his part, was the concerns of the citizens, the head of the Advisory Scientific Committee Konstantinos Tsioutis, who in a post on social media said that if scientists are formally asked to give their contributions, they will do so.
"The benefits of vaccination are undeniable. But citizens are justified in being hesitant and need constant and complete information. The data need further and continuous study. We need to study them and if we are called we will give our suggestions officially," he said, adding that "the EMA has concluded that it is possible to link the vaccine to extremely rare cases of certain types of thrombosis, which are now listed as a possible adverse reaction." The number of cases of thrombosis recorded, he indicated, "in relation to the number of people vaccinated worldwide is too small (1:100,000) and most cases involve women between 40-59 years of age".
More clear in his public statements was Professor Petros Karagiannis who, after pointing out that he was vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, added that he fully understands the reservations that people have". Asked to comment on the fact that there is not much interest in this vaccine by Cypriot citizens, Mr Karagiannis said that he considers that since "there is reservation by some, then the age limit should be lowered, or changed".
The possibility of a formal position of scientists on this subject is high, since, according to information provided by the 'F', there is already an informal debate under way between the members of the Scientific Advisory Committee.
Countries of Europe are changing their vaccination programmes
At European level, however, yesterday several EU Member States announced changes to their vaccination programmes, while placing different age restrictions.
Belgium has decided to limit the administration of the vaccine to people over the age of 55 for one month, while Italy's health minister has announced that the vaccine should only be offered to people over the age of 60. For her part, the Spanish Minister responsible announced that the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine would be temporarily suspended at national level for people under 60. Germany restricts administration to groups under the age of 60 and recommends that people under the age of 60 who had taken a first dose receive the second from another vaccine, France restricts the administration, to people aged 55 and over, the Netherlands to people aged 60 and over, Finland and Sweden to people aged 65 and over.
Other EU countries had suspended vaccinations with this vaccine in the previous period and until yesterday had not reviewed their decisions. Greece is expected to make its decisions today.
It is recalled that in the United Kingdom, the Government's Joint Committee on Vaccines and Vaccination (JCVI) stated that healthy people aged 18 to 24 years who are not at high risk of Covid should be able to be vaccinated with an alternative vaccine if available in their area.
Outside the European area, as broadcast by foreign news agencies, several states are turning their attention to other vaccines, especially those manufactured in China and Russia.
They're changing their way to find a solution.
Citing the technical problems presented at the Vaccination Portal due to the mass entry of citizens into the electronic system, the Ministry of Health announced yesterday that, in consultation with the Ministry of Health, although it continues its vaccination programme normally, it is changing the way in which citizens, by age group, will be able to arrange their appointments.
According to the official announcement issued last night, the vaccination programme continues "on the basis of an age criterion". However, today, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Vaccination Portal will be open only to people aged 59 and 60 and a total of 15,020 vaccination appointments will be made available at the Vaccination Centres in Cyprus."
This arrangement was 'made in consultation with the Ministry of Innovation, in order to reduce the technical issue by overloading the system'.
To this end, older people (aged 61 and over) will not have access to the Vaccination Portal today, but will be granted the option of arranging appointments by analogy on Saturday.
