Along with 268 thousand vaccines towards COVID and seasonal flu from the Ministry of Well being – Precedence for weak and high-risk teams
Along with the 268 thousand up to date vaccines, which shall be used for vaccinations towards COVID-19 and towards the seasonal flu, the Ministry of Well being, which has already began vaccinations since final week, with the final word aim of defending weak teams, has secured , but additionally the safety of the well being system of Cyprus.
The Ministry of Well being gives free vaccines towards the seasonal flu and the SARS-CoV2 virus, and all beneficiaries of the GeSY over six months are eligible for vaccination.
Nonetheless, precedence shall be given to weak and high-risk teams.
In accordance with what was stated on Friday, in the course of the presentation of the Actions and Vaccination Plan of the Ministry of Well being towards the illness COVID-19 and the flu for autumn/winter 2024-2025, it’s estimated that as much as 20% of the inhabitants is affected by the seasonal flu, whereas in response to the World Well being Group, the European Area consisting of 53 states, faces as much as 72,000 deaths annually from seasonal flu, which has a major impression on public well being.
Talking in the course of the presentation of the Vaccination Plan, the Director Normal of the Ministry of Well being, Dr. Christina Giannaki assured that her Ministry is “very nicely ready” to guard residents from COVID-19, but additionally from different respiratory viruses.
Within the quiver of the Ministry the Comirnaty Pfizer, Efluelda and Tetra
As he reported, for the present interval the Ministry of Well being has secured 123,840 Comirnaty Pfizer vaccines, with portions for infants over 6 months, youngsters and adults, whereas along with vaccines towards seasonal flu, the Division of Purchases and Provides of the Ministry of Well being has secured 30 thousand Efluelda, which shall be given solely to folks over 60 years previous, in addition to 115 thousand Influvac sub-unit Tetra, for folks over 6 months previous.
Requested if there are any ideas to affix the vaccination plan of the Ministry of Well being and the vaccination with vaccines towards the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Dr. Giannaki stated that it has been included within the agenda of the Vaccination Committee, which can meet subsequent time, to notice that the dialogue shall be accomplished earlier than the tip of the yr.
In accordance with Dr. Giannaki “the Nationwide Immunization Advisory Committee is finding out the introduction into the Nationwide Immunization Scheme of the vaccine towards the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is an RNA virus that always causes decrease respiratory tract infections, primarily in infants and younger youngsters”.
As famous by the Director Normal of the Ministry of Well being, the illness of COVID-19, not way back was an unprecedented international disaster, noting that “in the present day it has turn out to be a part of our day by day life, together with seasonal flu and different respiratory viruses”.
Citing knowledge as recorded by the European Middle for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC) since final Might, the general impression of COVID-19 on hospitalizations and mortality could also be comparatively low, however “shouldn’t be underestimated.”
He stated figures confirmed folks aged 65 and over and people with power situations remained the toughest hit group in hospital, highlighting the truth that weak populations are at greater threat of significant sickness, notably within the coming months with most individuals are congregating indoors as a result of colder climate.
Primary protecting measures
Dr. Giannaki reminded that embolization, staying at residence when somebody is unwell, working towards hand hygiene, using a protecting masks by weak teams, particularly when somebody is amongst crowds and guaranteeing sufficient air flow of areas are the fundamental protecting measures that residents should obtain.
Vaccination: The best technique of stopping infectious ailments
Mrs. Giannaki said that “vaccination is without doubt one of the best strategies of stopping infectious ailments”, so as to add that “the advice of the Nationwide Vaccination Advisory Committee, for the Fall/Winter 2024-2025 interval, is that vaccines needs to be administered freed from cost to all beneficiaries aged six months and over”.
Nonetheless, he famous that vaccination efforts ought to deal with defending folks over the age of 60, in addition to different weak folks of all ages with underlying comorbidities and immunosuppression, who usually tend to develop extreme illness if contaminated with the respiratory viruses.
“Within the case of the flu vaccine,” he stated, “the goal is wholesome youngsters and youngsters, in addition to adults, to scale back transmissibility, but additionally the financial impression and social disruption. Based mostly on this framework, the Nationwide Vaccination Advisory Committee has really helpful the precedence teams for vaccination”.
On the identical time vaccinations
Because it was stated within the presentation, with the goal of higher serving the general public, grownup vaccinations for each COVID-19 and the seasonal flu will have the ability to happen on the identical time on the present Vaccination Facilities of the Ministry of Well being, for many who will get the vaccine towards COVID-19.
On the identical time, Mrs. Giannaki stated that there shall be COVID-19 vaccinations for infants over 6 months previous and youngsters as much as 17 years previous, on the Maternity Safety and Baby Welfare Facilities of the Ministry of Well being.
In addition to, the general public may have free entry to the Facilities in query, whereas the working program of the Vaccination Facilities shall be continually evaluated in relation to the circulation of the general public and with the present plan, and if mandatory, the times or hours of operation shall be elevated.
Within the meantime, it was reported that vaccinations towards influenza for many who won’t get the vaccine towards COVID-19 on the identical day, will proceed as in earlier years, on the Workers Physicians of the NHS.
Vaccinations in previous age houses too
In relation to Retirement Houses and Establishments for Persistent Ailments of Adults, Dr. Giannaki stated that the vaccinations shall be carried out by their Nurses in collaboration with the Residents' Private Physicians.
Based mostly on the method, he stated, the vaccines towards COVID-19 shall be ordered from the Grownup Immunization Facilities, whereas the seasonal flu vaccines shall be executed by means of the Private Physicians.
On the identical time, he added that vaccinations can even be carried out for bedridden folks, by the House Nursing Service of OKYPY.
Process throughout vaccination
In relation to finishing up the vaccination, it’s essential to current an identification doc (identification card, passport or different).
On the identical time, with the vaccinations, a seasonal flu vaccination card shall be given, the place the vaccination, the kind of vaccine and the beneficiary's private info shall be famous.
The vaccination card might be introduced to the private docs, to register the vaccination within the NHS system.
Moreover, to watch native reactions in people receiving each vaccines, the seasonal flu vaccine shall be given in the appropriate arm and the COVID-19 vaccine within the left.
This can facilitate the reporting of any native, or different adversarial reactions, by means of the Yellow Card, which might be accomplished by means of the Ministry of Well being's Pharmaceutical Providers web site.
