Filenews 16 May 2021
The conclusion that as the National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 progresses, cases decrease and hospital indicators improve, is found in Cyprus on the basis of data for the period from 26 April to 14 May.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, particularly in older ages where vaccination coverage exceeds 80%, the number of cases has remained consistently at very low levels since March, while hospitalizations at these ages have fallen sharply. At the same time, there is a gradual decrease in the number of cases and hospitalizations and at ages 50-69, which has received at least the 1st dose of the vaccine a significant proportion of citizens.
As is clear from the graph below, the advantages of vaccination are evident in age groups with a high vaccination coverage rate. In the age groups most vulnerable to the virus (elderly people), a very low rate of cases has been recorded for several weeks. A gradual decrease or even stabilisation in the number of positive cases is observed in the other age groups as their vaccination shielding progresses. As a result, the number of people who are seriously ill and therefore hospital admissions are gradually reduced, significantly offloading the Health System.
At the same time, the vaccination coverage rate per Province is increasing, with Paphos leading the pack with 46.6%. They are followed by Nicosia with 43.7%, Larnaca with 42.3%, Limassol with 41.7% and Famagusta with 40% (data until 14 May 2021).
The Vaccination Plan is progressing rapidly and with the aim of shielding at least 65% of the population with the 1st dose of the vaccine in the first half of 2021. Closer to the target set by Cyprus in line with the European Union's objective, our country tomorrow completes the procedure for making vaccination appointments available for people aged 18 years and over, earlier than originally planned. The Vaccination Portal will then be opened for different age groups to re-enable appointments to be scheduled for those who had not done so earlier.
Vaccination with the 1st dose of the vaccine reached 43.9% (324,573 people) by 15 May, while at the same time 14.7% (108,789 people) have already completed their vaccination regimen. Between 27 December 2020 and 15 May 2021, 433,362 vaccinations were carried out in Cyprus, i.e. 49.3 doses of vaccine per 100 inhabitants were administered.
The perception that vaccinations and adherence to simple personal health measures is our only way out of the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic is increasingly pervasive in society. The positive response of citizens to the huge vaccination effort is the main reason why our country is at the fore among EU Member States in terms of vaccination coverage and is taking decisive steps towards meeting its goal of returning to a functional daily life safely.
