Filenews 2 November 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
The vaccination coverage of the entire population of Cyprus against the coronavirus reached 66.2%, the Minister of Health said yesterday in Parliament, explaining that this percentage concerns a total of 587,651 citizens. The cost of buying vaccines by early autumn had reached €27 million.
Analyzing, during the discussion of his ministry's budget, the economic data of the pandemic, Michalis Hadjipantelas mentioned that in addition to the €27 million spent by the State for the supply of vaccines, to date another €15 million has been spent on the purchase of medicines for the treatment of the Covid-19 disease, as well as €25 million which was spent on the implementation of rapid antigen testing programs in the population.
Regarding the progress of the vaccination program so far, he said that "66.2% of the total population has been fully vaccinated, which corresponds to 587,651 people, while 33,324 citizens received the third dose". By October 23, "79.6% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated, while 82% of adults have been vaccinated with one dose. Also, in the age group 16-17 years 39.7% have been fully vaccinated and with the first dose 25.9%. in the 12-15 age group, 28.2% have been fully vaccinated and with the first dose 28.2%".
The Minister of Health expressed the belief that "to a large extent we have succeeded, but without resting, as we are constantly alert, monitoring the epidemiological indicators, taking all the appropriate measures and trying to be one step ahead, because only in this way will we defeat the pandemic".
Mr. Chatzipandelas said that "due to the appearance of the Delta Plus mutation and due to the increase in cases, "any thoughts made were blocked" for some further relaxations in the restrictive measures" and clarified that "if the public follows the self-protection measures and if the vaccination proceeds, no additional measures are expected".
Meanwhile, the health ministry's Pharmaceutical Services are urging the public to report possible side effects from vaccines. The competent pharmaco-regulative authorities of 64 countries participating in the #MedSafetyWeek campaign, including the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, are encouraging health professionals, staff of national vaccination programmes, as well as patients, caregivers and their families, to report problems encountered by the use of vaccines, including vaccines against Covid-19.
The announcement noted that vaccines are the best way to protect against infectious diseases and have already saved millions of lives and as for all drugs, side effects can also occur with vaccines. The reporting of possible side effects, through the national yellow card reporting system, is added, helps to identify new side effects and to supplement knowledge about their actions.
It is recalled that adverse reactions can be reported in accordance with the national reference system to the Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacovigilance Sector, by submitting the Yellow Card in the following ways: Electronic submission through the website of the Pharmaceutical Services www.moh.gov.cy/phs and directly to the www.kitrinikarta.gov.cy and sending a printed form via fax (22-608669) or by post to the Pharmacovigilance Sector, Pharmaceutical Services (15, Polyfimou Strovolos Strovolos Strifimou Str.).
