Filenews 31 July 2021
Since unvaccinated citizens have decided not to take the vaccine we consider it their obligation to pay for rapid tests, said today the Minister of Health, Michalis Hatzipantellas, who noted that once the state provides the vaccine and the choice of vaccination to all citizens "we believe that rapid tests will not be needed".
Asked, following his visit on Saturday to the Department of First Aid of the Nicosia General Hospital, to comment on the abolition from tomorrow of the program free rapid test for citizens, Mr. Hatzipantellas said that this is a decision taken by the Council of Ministers, after examining all the data, to note that "so far we have paid €26 million for rapid tests, without counting the other costs'.
"Right now," he noted, "our hospitals need this financial injection. At the same time, we respect the views of our fellow citizens. Since the state provides the vaccine and the choice of vaccination to all our fellow citizens, we believe that once they have the option to be vaccinated, they will not need rapid tests. But once they themselves have decided not to take the vaccine, we feel it is their obligation to pay for the rapid tests."
He added that the points that would work for population groups, which are exempt from paid testing, would be announced as the practice so far.
He noted that he remains alert to solve any problems that may arise and explained that a prerequisite for a clinical laboratory or pharmacy to be able to carry out tests is to connect to the platform, so that the results can be given immediately.
Close to 10,600 walk-in vaccinations
For her part, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Christina Giannakis, referring to vaccinations in the centres of free participation, said that until yesterday they approached 10,600.
"The number of walk-ins is going up, which we will be reinforcing. From August 5th, anyone who wants to go will be able to go even if they are not registered with the GHS," he said.
He also added that from Monday the platform for children over the age of 12 will be opened, to note that "we have so much turned this vaccine program in the well-meaning interest of Public Health, of ourselves, of those around us, so that we can get out of the pandemic and especially for children now that the new academic year will open."
When asked if vaccinations would follow in academic institutions, as was the previous days at the TEPAK, Dr Giannakis responded positively, noting that action is already under way.
Finally, he assured that "with all these moves we will reach the target set for the end of August".
