Filenews 28 April 2021 - by Marlena Panagi
The quantities of Pfizer vaccine to be received by Cyprus and included in the vaccination programme are increasing over the next period, while at the same time, fewer quantities of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected and at the same time small batches will be received and will be related to Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines.
From autumn, moreover, vaccinations on the territory of the European Union will be carried out exclusively with the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine since, as is apparent from the statements of the Vice-President of the Commission Margaritis Schinas, the information that had come to light in the previous period concerning the non-renewal of the EU agreements with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, as well as the shift of Member States to mRNA technology vaccines are probably confirmed.
In particular, Mr Schinas essentially announced changes to the design of the EU vaccination programme, stressing that "the second phase of the vaccination programme, from autumn, will only concern mRNA vaccines covering mutations, which will be produced in the European Union. So, he noted, de facto, we are only negotiating with the Pfizer/BioNTech consortium." Mr Schinas also said that "these vaccines will be ready before the end of the year", referring to 900 million doses in 2022 and 900 million doses in 2023.
At the same time, he made it clear that "those who were vaccinated early will need to take an additional dose, which will be made with an mRNA vaccine, while the EU will exhaust all doses of vaccines it has purchased".
With regard to Cyprus, as Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services Elena Panagiotopoulou said in a statement, "every week Cyprus receives doses from all four licensed vaccines against Covid-19 disease and now, increased amounts of Pfizer vaccines and less of AstraZeneca are expected, while low amounts of Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines are expected". Ms Panagiotopoulou was unable to comment on the reports of the Vice-President of the Commission, saying that "vaccines licensed by the European Medicines Agency are allowed to circulate and vaccinate people in the EU. There is no question of not vaccinating someone because there is no official information from the EU to stop vaccination."
However, as far as the course of the vaccination programme is concerned, yesterday, the Vaccination Portal was opened for 42-year-olds. The available appointments were 10,389 and by 1 noon, only 6,190 had been arranged with 5,411 involving Pfizer vaccine, 439 AstraZeneca vaccine and 340 Moderna vaccine.
Right to a new appointment when there is a reason
Citizens who miss their scheduled vaccination appointment, either because they are positive for the coronavirus, or because they are close contacts of cases and are in confinement, or for other reasons, can reschedule it following a specific procedure. The Ministry of Health issued a communication yesterday, giving guidance and answers to questions often asked in recent days by citizens concerning the vaccination process.
It should be stressed that, where citizens have arranged an appointment through the Vaccination Portal and have not received a text message or form, they can contact call centre 1474.
Reschedule appointments
- In order to reschedule the appointment, it is necessary to inform the Ministry of Health immediately. The citizen can either call the Call Centre 1474 by phone, or send an e-mail to the e-mail address director@mphs.moh.gov.cy stating the following information: Name, ID number, date of birth and time of appointment. If the reprogramming concerns the first or second dose of the vaccine, the vaccination centre, the type of vaccine, the contact number and the reason why the appointment is requested and the date on which it is desirable to schedule the new appointment.
- Once this information has been received, by the Ministry of Health and verified, the rescheduling of the appointment will be promoted and the citizen will be informed.
- In case of reprogramming, the citizen is given a new appointment at the same Vaccination Centre and for the same type of vaccine related to his initial appointment, in the shortest possible time.
- Citizens who have arranged an appointment and in the meantime have emerged either as close case contact or as a positive case, may request its rescheduling.
- Vaccination shall be carried out within three (3) months after recovery and after at least 42 days have passed after recovery/seroegation in the diagnostic tests.
- In addition to scheduling appointments through the Vaccination Portal, citizens can contact their Personal Physician and, if the doctor has expressed an interest in vaccinating his beneficiaries aged 30 years and over in his office with an AstraZeneca vaccine.
