Filenews 11 June 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
European citizens' interest in vaccination is decreasing and the phenomenon is observed throughout the territory of the European Union not excluding Cyprus, which is also demonstrated by the daily account of the Vaccination Portal which operates giving second or third chance to the different age groups but, the number settled is much less than the available vaccines.
Yesterday, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) published a new risk assessment for the transmission of coronavirus, warning that 'the immunity of the population is far from being achieved in the European Union', while giving strict recommendations to Member States on the pace of relaxation of restrictive measures on their territory.
As ECDC specifically states, "as of 3 June, the average cumulative intake of vaccines in the adult EU/EEA population (aged 18 years and over) reached 46.2% for at least one dose of vaccine and 22.3% for the full vaccination course". The highest level of vaccine intake was observed in the 80+ elderly, which is also observed in the official data of the Ministry of Health with regard to vaccination coverage in the different age groups.
Commenting on the findings of the new assessment, ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said that "there are very few people who have been fully vaccinated to get to the immunity of the population" and addressed to EU Member States, stressed that "decisions to relax measures should be particularly careful in a local context, and should include assessments of the current epidemiological situation , the prevalence of worrying mutations and vaccination coverage, on a case-by-case basis'.
The ECDC notes in its report that most countries in the EU report "declining trends" in terms of the number of new cases, the burden on hospitals and Intensive Care Units and deaths. However, it notes that 'SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains widespread in much of the EU/EEA at a time when a large proportion of the population remains vulnerable to the virus and the immunity of the population is far from being achieved'.
With regard to Cyprus, the Scientific Advisor of the Ministry of Health on vaccination issues for the Coronavirus Associate Professor of Pharmacy Christos Petrou, said speaking to "F" that "interest in recent times has decreased greatly" and stressed that "the debate at the moment should focus on moving vaccinations forward in all age groups" , stressing that "we have before us a very large percentage of adults who have not yet been vaccinated and given this we cannot say that we will achieve the desired reduction in the transmission of the virus in the community, even knowing that the Indian mutation is circulating among us". He recalled that "some groups of the population who were vaccinated very early are very likely to need a third booster dose, in The Fall", indicating that "the good epidemiological picture should not cause complacency, we are not done with the pandemic".
Data from the Vaccination Portal in recent days give a clear indication of the now diminished interest of citizens in vaccination.
For example, last Tuesday the Portal was closed for the 23-27 age group and during its operation 5,450 appointments were arranged at a time when the available vaccines were 10,250.
Similarly, in the 18-22 age group for which the Gate opened on Wednesday morning and closed yesterday afternoon, the numbers recorded were 3,575 appointments out of 11,986 available.
ECDC's findings and recommendations
In its report yesterday the ECDC states that "one of the main public health objectives in the current pandemic phase is to reduce severe disease and COVID-19 mortality by ensuring full vaccination for risk groups, including the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions". It adds, at the same time, that 'countries with a favourable epidemiological situation and progress towards high intake of vaccines in priority groups may consider adapting and phasing out their non-pharmaceutical interventions, after careful assessment of their local situation', but noting that it 'considers that decisions to facilitate measures should be particularly careful in the local context'.
"The emergence and spread of anxiety mutations, which are potentially more contagious or cause a more serious disease or escape from natural or vaccine-induced immunity, require strong surveillance measures and enhanced measures to stop, delay or reduce the spread," the European Centre says, stressing that "the risk of new variants entering the EU is closely related to the evolution of the pandemic both inside and outside the EU." It also warns that 'the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 from travel-related cases, including new variants of viruses, may play a role in triggering increased Community transmission of COVID-19, particularly when transmission levels at the reception site are low'. Therefore, 'carefully and strictly implemented travel measures may have an impact on the introduction and further transmission of new virus mutations, or on the reintroduction of any form of virus, if local transmission levels are low'.
Vaccination coverage rate in Cyprus
With regard to the vaccination coverage rate, by 4 June, for the 80-year-old age group and above, the proportion of fully vaccinated subjects was 81.2% while 6.5% had received only the first dose. In the other age groups:
> 18-19 years old, 18% had received the first dose and 1.9% the second.
> 20-29 years old, 19.6% had received the first dose and 5.5% the second.
> 30-39 years old, 17% had received the first dose and 22.8% in the second,
> 40-49 years old, 21.5% had received the first dose and 40.5% the second.
> 50-59 years old, 27.3% had received the first dose and 38.2% the second.
> 60-69 years old, 27.9% had received the first dose and 47.9% the second.
> 70-79 years old, 8.8% had received the first dose and 76.6% the second.
With regard to the general vaccination coverage rate, according to the latest data released yesterday by the Ministry of Health, fully vaccinated (i.e. with both doses), it was up to Wednesday 37.9% of the adult population while the first dose had been received by 57.6%. This means that 42.4% of adults have not received any dose of the vaccine.
