Filenews 31 May 2021
Satisfaction with the progress of the National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 was expressed today by the Minister of Health, Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou, and the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakidou, in statements on the sidelines of a visit they made to the Vaccination Centre operating on the site of the State Fair in Nicosia.
Speaking about today's visit to the Vaccination Centre, the Minister of Health said that he informed the European Commissioner that "we are also moving quickly with our vaccination plan as planned. We are heading towards a goal that is none other than covering at least one dose of the vaccine of 65% of the population.
Currently about 53% of the population has been vaccinated with the 1st dose and 28% have completed vaccination. We are building the wall of protection, we are already seeing the results of vaccination in the reduction in hospitalizations as well as in cases in the already shielded ages that are the over 60s and especially the over-70s. We would like to thank the citizens once again for their response and responsibility in response to the call for vaccination and we are moving towards shielding the people of Cyprus."
Rendezvous and AstraZeneca
Asked if there was any indication of cancellations of an appointment for vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine, Mr Ioannou reiterated the position expressed unanimously by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Coronavirus that those who have already received the 1st dose of the vaccine should normally attend the appointment for the 2nd dose, in order to complete their vaccination and to have the necessary coverage against both the virus and mutations.
"We see that the world in reprogramming comes, there is no problem. For people under 50 who had planned the 1st dose, these are 329 people and they are given the opportunity to either proceed with their vaccination if they wish or call 1474, cancel their appointment and schedule another one with an mRNA vaccine when their age group opens," noted the Minister.
Asked if the AstraZeneca vaccine vaccination programme by Personal Physicians would continue, the Minister of Health replied that an update from The Personal Physicians is expected. "The world under 50 is not many who wish. So it's up to the Personal Physicians themselves to either return the AstraZeneca vaccines that have been given if there are cancellations or some continue the program. To emphasize that use is not banned, it is a recommendation made for the under-50s to use mRNAtechnology vaccines", pointed out Mr. Ioannou.
In the first places Cyprus
For her part, European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakidou congratulated the Minister of Health on the excellent effort being made to vaccinate the population against COVID-19. "Cyprus is currently at the top of the EU Member States in terms of the 1st tranche and is moving forward. At the same time I wanted to thank all the medical and paramedical staff who are in the Vaccination Centres and the citizens themselves, who responsibly come for vaccination, shielding not only themselves, but also those around them", stressed Ms. Kyriakidou.
"I have found that all protocols and the protection of personal data are respected in the way they are being vaccinated and the opportunity I have had to talk to citizens has shown that they are extremely pleased not only with the way in which they are organised, but also feel very positive about the issue of vaccination. It is important that all together - and I support everyone - fight the misinformation that exists, because only through vaccination - and we currently have four vaccines approved by the EMA that are safe and effective - will only be able to overcome the pandemic," said the European Commissioner.
The vaccination target
Asked to say when there is expected to be a significant rise in the EU, Ms Kyriakidou reiterated that the target set by the European Commission is that by mid-July Member States will have been supplied with a sufficient number of doses of vaccines to be able to cover around 70% of adults. "We have an issue now and we monitor it on a daily basis with mutations. The faster we vaccinate, the more effective the shielding that exists for mutations. That is why, on this occasion, I would first like to thank the Minister, all my fellow citizens, for their responsibility and to ask them to respond to the call for them to come and get vaccinated. It's the only way we've been effective so we can get back to normality," he said.
Increase production
Then, in a journalist's report that the UN SG spoke of the need to triple vaccine production in order to vaccinate the whole planet in order to gain real immunity, while also talking about vaccine nationalism, Ms Kyriakidou stressed that "the European Commission has been leading the way for six months on issues relating to the strengthening of other countries and countries that do not have the potential for vaccines. We are working intensively to increase vaccine production together with companies because we are talking about a pandemic. And in a pandemic we must be able to shield everyone, not just European citizens, but everyone, and that is why we are participating in COVAX together with the World Health Organisation, so that we can supply all countries as soon as possible. It is a huge effort and I think that as we move forward now, we will be able to get more aid for the other countries."
And a third dose?
In response to a question about the need for a 3rd dose, the EU Health Commissioner noted that two weeks ago she signed a new contract with BioNTech/Pfizer to supply 1.8 billion doses for the end of 2021, 2022 and 2023, so that we are prepared for the possibility of a next tranche, as well as doses adapted to mutations. It is expected, he said, that similar agreements will be made with other companies. "The vaccination strategy - and now the strategy for treatment schemes has followed - is what has secured us, so that all countries, all Member States, large and small, have access to vaccines just together. This also means European solidarity," said Ms Kyriakidou.
Up to 30 May, a total of 595,906 vaccinations were carried out (administration of 67.7 doses per 100 inhabitants). 52.3% have been vaccinated with the 1st dose of the vaccine (386,710 people) and 28.3% have completed their vaccination regimen (209,196 people).
