Filenews 21 August 2021 - by Evangelia Sizopoulou
Next Monday, the latest is expected on whether the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will give the green light – and officially – to European countries to give a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines to the population. As "F" is informed, Cyprus is awaiting the guidelines on Monday, while its competent services declare themselves ready to serve the public that will be vaccinated with the third dose, as the quantities of vaccines are secured.
The issue of granting a third tranche is of great concern to national and European bodies, with the possibility that this is also the official decision, which is the most likely, as some countries are already proceeding with the support dose to specific population groups, while others seem to be putting strong pressure on European agencies in this direction.
The information indicates that strong pressure for a third tranche is mainly exerted by Germany, France and Greece. It is recalled that the administration of a third dose concerns the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Regarding the groups of the population that will be placed first in the list of the administration of the booster dose in our country, it is expected to be the elderly as well as people who fall into vulnerable groups from specific diseases. As reported to "F" by a competent source, Cyprus can serve these population groups with a vaccine for their third dose, as well as other groups that may be needed in the long run.
Meanwhile, the vaccination program continues as normal and according to the data provided yesterday by the Ministry of Health, by Thursday the percentage of the adult population that completed its vaccination regimen reached 71.8%, while with the first dose 77.2%.
It is also noted that in the last seven days, a total of 32,688 vaccinations have been carried out in all provinces, of which 11,051 were for the first dose and 21,616 for the second.
In another development, the Ministry of Health will make an effort to transfer to Cyprus intensive care nurses from abroad.
As stated by the General Director of the Ministry, Christina Giannaki, "this effort is important to help the carers in the Intensive Care Units of Nicosia General Hospital". It is recalled that for years there has been a recruitment problem.
