Filenews 18 June 2021
Cyprus is close to the original target set for vaccination coverage with the 1st dose of the vaccine of 65% of the population in the first half of 2021, according to the Health Ministry.
In particular, up to 17 June, 61.8% of the population was vaccinated with the 1st dose and, at the same time, 42.9% completed their vaccination regimen. As part of efforts to shield as much of the population against COVID-19 as possible, the Vaccination Portal has been opened this morning for all people aged 18 and over and will remain open in the coming period, with vaccines available on the basis of deliveries.
According to the Ministry of Health, in Cyprus, although the first target of 65% vaccination coverage with at least the 1st dose of the vaccine is achieved, the need for greater shielding of public health and the population persists. As identified in the National Report, there is now a shift in relation to diagnoses at younger ages, where the vaccination coverage rate remains at a lower level.
A characteristic of the protection offered by vaccination is the fact that in people aged 50years and over, where vaccination coverage has reached a fairly high level, the rate of cases varies in single digits, having recorded a dramatic decrease in recent months, when the vaccination programme has progressed.
18 - 30 the highest rate of cases
For example, only 5% of cases in the period 1-16 June are aged 65 and over . In contrast, the highest proportion of cases detected over the same period (24%), fall into the 18-30 age group, in which vaccination coverage moves at a low rate.
In general, in recent weeks there has been a very high rate of unvaccination, but also of people who show more serious symptoms and are admitted to hospital for hospitalization. For example, data from the Ministry of Health show that only 3% of domestic cases have completed their vaccination, with the percentage of positive cases that have not received even the first dose of the vaccine reaching around 96%.
80% without vaccination history
In addition, 80% of symptomatic cases have no history of vaccination. On the other side, only two of the cases developed symptoms while they had completed their vaccination regimen.
At the same time, data from nurses confirm the findings on the protection offered by vaccination. In the period from 1 June to 16 June, less than 1% had received only the 1st dose of vaccine. The importance of vaccination for health protection is also demonstrated by the fact that none of the nurses were fully vaccinated.
Although pancyprian, epidemiological indicators have stabilised, with actions focusing on maintaining the improved picture, in recent days, although to a limited extent, there has been an increase in the number of cases and the positivity rate in Limassol Province. In addition, the presence of virus fragments with a slight growth trend in Limassol sewage is detected, which turns attention to controlling the likelihood of a new outbreak in the Province.
In order to prevent a new outbreak either at Cypriot or local level, given the restart of economic and social activity, a commitment by society as a whole to compliance with individual protection measures is needed. At the same time, bearing in mind that what is also observed internationally is verified in our country, namely that the higher the vaccination coverage, the lower the number of diagnoses and hospitalizations, citizens who have not already been vaccinated are encouraged to arrange an appointment for vaccination, preventing the spread of new strains in the community and protecting their health and the health of their families.
