Cyprus ranks first among the European Union member states in terms of vaccination, at least with the first dose of the vaccine, for people aged 80 and over, according to the initial target, which was set in December.
According to the Ministry of Health, Cyprus is one of the first countries to reach the European Union target of vaccinating at least 80% of health professionals by March, while it is one of the countries that have already started vaccinating high-risk groups. .
In addition, the competent Ministry states that as of February 23, a total of 64,562 vaccinations were carried out, of which 44,239 concern persons who received the first dose of the vaccine and 20,323 persons who completed their vaccination (2nd dose).
In the meantime, the vaccination of people aged 71 and over is in progress, while the vaccinations are carried out in nine Vaccination Centers in all Provinces, by a total of 20 teams.
Vaccination Centers in Paphos and Larnaca will start operating this week, while with the full development of Vaccination Centers, up to 15,000 vaccinations per day will be possible.
According to the Ministry of Health, “having prioritized the protection of the health of the elderly and following the recommendations of the European Commission to shield this vulnerable group of the population, the National Vaccination Plan, in addition to the short-term goal of protecting the elderly, -long-term goal of reducing hospitalizations and deaths and discharging the Health System.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health, wanting to protect the bedridden people, has established a procedure for vaccination at home or in their place of residence, through mobile vaccination units.
The priority of the Ministry of Health, according to the announcement, through the Vaccination Plan is to protect high-risk groups of the population, since according to a study by the Public Health Center of Scotland, the results of almost 1.5 million vaccinations showed that a dose of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines is effective and significantly reduces hospital admissions.
According to the same study, by the 4th week after taking the first dose, the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines were shown to reduce the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization by up to 85% and 94%, respectively.
In relation to people aged 80 and over, who are one of the groups at highest risk for serious illness, vaccination was associated with an 81% reduction in the risk of hospitalization in the 4th week, when the results for both vaccines were combined.
Equally encouraging are the data from a study in Israel, which found that the Pfizer vaccine was 95.8% effective in preventing infection two weeks after the second dose, 99.2% effective in preventing serious forms of the disease and 98.9% in the prevention of death.
At the same time, adds the Ministry of Health, a British study showed that the risk of infection with the virus is reduced by 85% after the 2nd dose.
More than 64,000 vaccinations until February 23 in Cyprus
It is noted that the vaccination plan is progressing smoothly and the country is accelerating its pace, increasing the vaccination coverage of citizens and vulnerable groups, along with vaccination by age.
Specifically, as of February 23, a total of 64,562 vaccinations were performed, of which 44,239 concerned individuals who received the first dose of the vaccine and 20,323 persons who completed their vaccination (2nd dose).
Vaccinations are carried out in nine Vaccination Centers in all Provinces, from a total of 20 workshops.
There are two large Vaccination Centers in operation, in the State Exhibition, Nicosia, and in the Sports Center “Spyros Kyprianou” in Limassol with a capacity of 15 and 10 workshops, respectively.
This week, Vaccination Centers in Paphos and Larnaca will start operating, with a capacity of seven workshops each.
With the full development of Vaccination Centers, up to 15,000 vaccinations per day will be possible.
It is recalled that so far, the European Medicines Agency has licensed three vaccines, AstraZeneca, Comirnaty from Pfizer and the vaccine from Moderna, have passed the bar for safety and efficacy.
As a matter of course, Cyprus supplies vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency, as the substantive EU Competent Authority for the evaluation, approval and licensing of medicinal products.
In view of the licensing of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in March and according to the information from the manufacturers, it is expected that in March more than 160,000 doses of the three vaccines will be sent, with the flow increasing in the 2nd quarter of the year.
Patrols increase in Limassol to monitor new coronavirus precautionary measures
Cases in primary schools in Polemidia – Students did not go to school, they run to catch the worst
The whole handball team of Category A got a coronavirus – They did not take measures, says the Minister. Health
