Filenews 28 May 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
Answers to the questions of thousands of citizens about the new data around the AstraZeneca vaccine are invited to give since yesterday the Ministry of Health, while their discomfort was also expressed by the personal doctors of the General Health System, who are waiting for information on what to do, since several of their beneficiaries who had arranged an appointment for vaccination , belong to the under-50s, for which a special recommendation was announced on Wednesday afternoon.
"F" sought answers after questions from dozens of citizens from Wednesday until yesterday afternoon, and was also briefed during the day by the Ministry of Health.
Most citizens belong to the category of people under 50 years of age and have already undergone the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. Many are concerned about whether they will be safe if they receive the second dose of the vaccine.
The answer to this case was also given yesterday by all the scientists who made statements on this. "Only people who have received the first dose of the vaccine and have experienced serious side effects should not proceed to the second dose in accordance with international recommendations," Deputy Professor of Pharmacy Christos Petrou stressed in a statement. At the same time, he stressed that "vaccination in order to be effective and to create long-term protection, but also protection against mutations such as British and Indian, must be completed".
Another large portion of people, also under the age of 50, have arranged an appointment for the first dose of this vaccine in the coming days and are asking to be informed whether they will be eligible to change the vaccine.
The answer, this time, was given directly by the President of the Republic, who in response to a question stated that, 'from the time he is under 50 years of age, even if an appointment for vaccination with AstraZeneca has been arranged, they will be given a second chance to be vaccinated with another vaccine'.
The next group of citizens expressed anxiety about whether there would be enough reserves in Cyprus to receive the second dose of the vaccine, as already planned.
According to the assurances of the Ministry of Health, in Cyprus, a stockpile of this vaccine is currently available and quantities are expected to arrive in the next period which are sufficient to meet the needs of the more than 90,000 citizens who have received the first dose and are waiting for the second.
As far as personal doctors who have obtained a number of AstraZeneca vaccines are concerned, since yesterday afternoon they have been recording cancellations of appointments they have arranged for beneficiaries who are mainly under 50 years of age.
As the president of the scientific society of family and personal doctors, Andreas Polyneikis, said in a statement, "this is a problem, for which we have not yet gotten instructions from the Ministry of Health but it is obvious that the Minister's announcement that under 50 will not be vaccinated with AstraZeneca, except in cases where they themselves wish to be vaccinated".
"Almost all scheduled appointments declared for AstraZeneca vaccination have been cancelled," he said, clarifying that "with the second dose we will vaccinate people who did not have any serious side effects and will proceed to the second vaccination." Other personal doctors who contacted "F" expressed the question of whether they should return the vaccines already available to the Ministry of Health.
"F" raised the issue before the Ministry of Health, which assured that all personal doctors would receive relevant information and most likely the vaccines in their possession would be returned or possibly kept to be given to their beneficiaries who are waiting to receive the second dose.
Meanwhile yesterday, it was announced that the Vaccination Portal will reopen today from 7:30 a.m. and will remain open until Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for people aged 36-39, who are given a second chance to arrange appointments. Vaccinations, as the Ministry of Health points out, "will be carried out in Vaccination Centres operating in Cyprus with the available vaccines".
It is recalled that according to the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, which was the result of the recommendations of the majority of the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee, people under the age of 50 from now on are encouraged to be vaccinated with mRNA vaccines, i.e. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Three "doses" of relaxations from tomorrow until June 10
Relax in three phases decided yesterday by the Council of Ministers and the beginning is from tomorrow, with the change in the start time of the curfew.
Detailed and in accordance with the decisions of the Government:
- From 29 May, the travel ban [curfew] is valid from 1 am. to 5 a.m.
From 1 June:
- The presence in homes of persons with a maximum number of 20 persons, including permanently resident persons and minors.
- The physical presence of persons indoors, such as religious worship, casinos, conference and trade fair venues, theatres, amphitheatres and other performing arts venues is set at 50% of the capacity of each venue.
- The reopening of the interiors of catering operations on the basis of the health protocol.
From June 10:
- The curfew measure is repealed.
- Recreational nightclubs are reopening on the basis of a health protocol.
- The limit of 50% physical presence in private enterprises and departments/organisations of the public and wider public sectors is lifted.
Announcing the new relaxes, Health Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said that "it is important not to forget that despite the substantial steps we are taking, the virus is still among us. It is essential at this time, when society and the economy are unlocking, to continue with caution and consistency in the observance of measures. From now on, the common goal of all of us should be to maintain the positive epidemiological picture and further improve it."
