After several years of unnecessary inconvenience and insecurity, on the part of doctors and patients, for the vaccination coverage of seriously ill patients, the Ministry of Health proceeded to draw up a bill which puts an end to the "stickiness", i.e. the printed certificates, that until now the state vaccination centers gave to the citizens who were vaccinated, interconnecting its own computerized system with the GHS system.
The bill is entitled "The Establishment and Operation of the National Vaccination Registry Law of 2026", and aims to create a single, centralized and fully interconnected system for recording vaccinations in the Republic of Cyprus.
Specifically, and as provided for in the bill, all vaccinations of citizens will be digitally recorded in the Registry, regardless of where they are carried out. At the same time, the technological interconnection of the IT systems of the Ministry of Health and the GHS is foreseen, in order to ensure the exchange of data and direct access to up-to-date vaccination information.
According to the explanatory text accompanying the bill, today vaccinations are carried out through different structures and recorded on separate platforms, which creates difficulties in monitoring the vaccination coverage of the population.
GHS beneficiaries are largely served by personal doctors and paediatricians, while uninsured citizens and asylum seekers are vaccinated through the vaccination centers of the Ministry of Health.
At the same time, two different recording systems are operating. On the one hand, the GHS platform, where the vaccinations of the beneficiaries are registered and, on the other hand, the Vaccination Portal of the Ministry of Health, which was initially used mainly for vaccinations against COVID-19 and is now expanding to include all available vaccines.
The Ministry of Health points out that the existing fragmented picture does not allow for a complete and reliable mapping of the vaccination coverage of the population, while increasing the risk of double or unrecorded vaccinations.
At the same time, it is stated that the absence of uniform access to data makes it difficult to use critical health information immediately, especially in cases of medical emergency.
It is recalled that very recently and on the part of organized patients, relevant protests were recorded, as with the system that is in force to date, seriously ill patients, such as transplanted people who are required to repeat all vaccinations, did not have access to their file.
As a result, very often they lost the form on which the vaccinations they had undergone were written and in cases of emergency their doctors did not have the opportunity to know their vaccination history.
Through the National Registry, it will be possible to access the necessary information without double data storage.
The goal, it is pointed out, is for every citizen to have a constantly updated vaccination history, which they will be able to use when necessary.
At the same time, the Ministry estimates that the creation of the National Vaccination Registry will contribute substantially to the strengthening of prevention and public health, as the competent authorities will be able to have a clearer picture of vaccination coverage rates, the needs of the population and the possible gaps that may exist in specific groups or areas.
The Ministry of Health invites all stakeholders and citizens to participate in the public consultation process, by sending suggestions, comments or observations through the special electronic platform, until June 24, 2026.
