Filenews 13 July 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
"Walk In" vaccination centres, in which citizens can be screened without an appointment, will probably be open from Thursday, while the Government has recruited employers and entrepreneurs seeking new incentives to vaccinate citizens and especially young people. Public hospitals are regrouping in anticipation of an increase in the number of patients with coronavirus, epidemiological indicators remain in the red, tensions in safepass busy areas continue in several cases while the number of appointments arranged through the vaccination platform, although gradually increasing, remains at very low levels for the time being.
The pandemic scene remains complex and on Wednesday the Council of Ministers is not excluded, if necessary, from discussing again issues related to the promotion of vaccination and how to manage the fourth wave of the pandemic, which, as scientists point out, is under way with the follow-up unable to predict.
Yesterday, under the Commissioner of the Citizen, a wide-ranging meeting was held with the participation of employers' organisations, the Association of Banks, semi-state and private service organisations as well as representatives of public and private universities.
The aim is to record suggestions for incentives that could be given to workers, especially young people, in order to proceed with their vaccination. For discussion, as reported by 'F', the possibility of granting discounts by telecommunications and internet companies to vaccinated persons, or facilities from banking institutions or other undertakings in the form of discounts or offers, was raised.
As decided, employers' organisations and the Association of Banking Institutions will address their members, record their own suggestions and what is included in the final incentive package to be prepared will be available to citizens via a dedicated online platform.
For its part, the Ministry of Health will also open "Walk In" vaccination centres from Thursday. These will give citizens the possibility of vaccination without an appointment and this is a practice that is also followed in other countries. The Walk In units will reportedly be located in existing vaccination centres and will operate Monday to Saturday from morning until early afternoon.
However, for the time being, although there is a relative increase in the number of appointments arranged through the vaccination platform by citizens, rates among young people are still very low. According to the official data of the Ministry of Health, from the age group 16-17, until 8 July, a total of 22,541 appointments were arranged with the 1st dose, while from 2 to 10 July a total of 22,541 appointments were arranged.
