"There should be no complacency about the high rate of vaccination in Cyprus," Zoe Dorothea Pana, Lecturer in Pediatrics at the European University of Cyprus and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health, told KYPE.
Asked to comment on the announcement of the Ministry of Health that by 14 August 70,3% of the adult population had completed their vaccination schedule, while the corresponding percentage in the EU is 62,4%, Ms. Pana said that we are one of best countries in the EU where a significant proportion have been fully vaccinated but this should not create complacency.
"It should not reassure us, nor unfortunately give us a sense of security of the herd's immunity, so that we consider the community to be protected. The notion of herd immunity with the strict condition that it does not allow the virus to spread and protect the whole community, especially now with the D 'mutation, which concerns the most contagious strain we have to manage since the onset of the pandemic, makes "Immunity of the herd is very difficult", he underlined.
He said that what is required is to achieve high vaccination coverage in all age groups so that in all areas where we operate we have a high firewall.
Observance of protection measures by vaccinated, they transmit but to a lesser extent
Regarding researches that the vaccinated also transmit to a large extent the coronavirus and mainly the D 'mutation, Ms. Pana said that the vaccinated should also take protection measures because they can also transmit the virus, but to a lesser extent.
Ms Pana said vaccinated people were protected from serious illness, hospitalization and death. If a vaccinated person is exposed to a very high load environment he will be infected, but he will be protected and will not spread the virus with the same dynamics as an unvaccinated person.
"The value of vaccination in controlling the epidemic is not negated. The value of immunity and protection from vaccination is undeniable. "On the other hand, care is needed, observance of personal protection measures, hand washing, use of a mask, ventilation of countries, which significantly reduce the spread, especially indoors", he pointed out.
Third dose in immunosuppressed, elderly, closed structures
Asked about the booster dose of the vaccine, she said that there is a lot of extensive scientific discussion around the world about the third dose, mainly about the appropriate time of administration and the population groups that it will affect.
From the data we have at the moment, he said, it seems that the third dose will primarily concern people with immunosuppression, the elderly and closed structures.
He reminded that three countries have already officially announced that they will proceed in the autumn with an aid dose (Germany, France and Israel) with priority on the immunocompromised and elderly and possibly closed structures.
He said that the corresponding discussion is taking place in Cyprus in order to analyze the data and to make a good planning based on documentation for the time and the prioritization of the teams.
Schools need to stay open, the impact of lockdown on childhood is great
Ms. Pana said the recommendations from the World Health Organization and the European Agency for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize that we need to keep schools open because the psychosocial and educational impact on childhood from prolonged closure is significant.
They also emphasize, he added, that due to the prevalence of the D 'mutation, there must be reverent observance of health protocols, distances, ventilated areas, use of a mask - which is now highly recommended for children over 2 years old - in order to prevent the spread of school space.
He also noted that many measures are needed at the same time, such as regular check-ups to detect cases and contacts so that there is not much expansion in school, acceleration of vaccination coverage of the adult population in schools, especially those who come in contact with high-risk children and vaccination based on children. .
Asked whether the children should undergo a rapid test every three days, she said that we have not settled on what will be a regular check-up, as there must be a balance so that there is a check-up, but the children do not suffer, while there is cost issue.