Filenews 4 November 2021
The Council of Ministers decided today to extend the measures against the spread of COVID-19, as well as the extension of the age limit for vaccination with a booster dose to 50 years of age and to people with severe obesity, following a proposal presented by the Minister of Health, Mr. Michalis Hadjipantelas.
The Council of Ministers studied the epidemiological data as they have been formed in recent days, and took into account the fact that the scientific community in Cyprus and internationally believes that in the coming period great care is needed to avoid a new outbreak. As Mr Hatzipandelas noted, in many European states there is already a deterioration in the epidemiological picture, forcing states to reintroduce strict restrictive measures.
Following these data, but also in order to allow time for monitoring and reassessing the epidemiological picture, the Council of Ministers approved the extension of the current measures until December 2, 2021.
In addition, and following a recommendation by the majority of the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee, the Council of Ministers approved the proposal to reduce the age limit for the administration of a booster dose to people aged 50 years and over, provided that six months have necessarily elapsed since the completion of the initial vaccination regimen. According to the data, the position is reinforced that gradually the administration of the booster dose should be extended to the general population, since it is observed that, over a certain period of time since the completion of the initial vaccination regimen, immunity declines and there is a gradual decrease in the effectiveness of the vaccine for disease and hospitalization.
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the proposal to include in vulnerable groups that have priority for vaccination with a booster dose of people with severe obesity (people with a BMI> 40, or a BMI of > =35 and metabolic syndrome) regardless of age, who had been vaccinated in the first phase of the National Vaccination Program. A prerequisite for vaccination with a booster dose is that a period of six months has elapsed since the completion of the initial vaccination.
It is clarified that the Ministry of Health will inform in the coming days about the procedure to be followed for the administration of the booster dose to people aged 50 years and over and to people with severe obesity.
