Filenews 11 February 2022 - by Marilena Panagi
It seems that Cyprus will soon follow the path of other countries, since the data recorded daily in public hospitals, lead to the conclusion that the administration of a fourth dose of vaccine to only specific groups of the population, such as the elderly, and the immunosuppressed, must slowly be included in the planning of the Ministry of Health.
In fact, as reported by "F", scientists began to discuss this issue with each other, since the data released yesterday by the Ministry of Health in relation to the vaccination history of those hospitalized with coronavirus, give the first clear indication of a drop in immunity that high-risk individuals had acquired, after receiving the third dose of vaccine last September.
Reinforcing this view, is also the picture recorded in the daily announcements of the Ministry of Health for the daily results, since the percentage of unvaccinated hospitalized, shows a slow but steady decrease every day.
Specifically, and according to the data released by the Ministry of Health and concerning patients who were hospitalized on Wednesday, 55% of the hospitalized were without a history of vaccination.
3% of those hospitalized were fully vaccinated, while 19% of those hospitalized were partially vaccinated. The trigger for the official start of the discussion for the administration of 4th dose to specific groups of the population, gave of course the fact that 23% of hospitalized are fully vaccinated and with a booster dose.
According to the definitions given by the Ministry of Health, "partially vaccinated are those who had received the first dose of the two-dose vaccine, those who had received the two doses and not 14 days have elapsed since the second dose, those who had received the JJ and no period of 14 days has elapsed, as well as those who had received two doses and 5 months have elapsed since the second dose and have not proceeded with the booster dose".
In addition, according to the competent ministry, "fully vaccinated are those who have received both doses of the two-dose vaccine and a period of 14 days has elapsed since the second dose, as well as 150 days have not elapsed since the second dose (the same applies to the single-dose JJ)".
These data, in connection with the significant increase recorded in the number of elderly patients with coronavirus, are expected to be put forward soon both before the Advisory Scientific Committee and before the competent National Vaccination Committee, in order to decide whether Cyprus will follow the example of other European countries and proceed to the administration of a 4th dose or whether it will first wait for the relevant recommendation from the European Organization Medications, and it is unknown when it will be issued.
