Dr. Voniatis: A lockdown does not save us, vaccinations must be increased

"We already have several people in hospital and young people intubated. All this should concern us "

imagew 2021 07 14T122350.559 Coronavirus, Dr. Voniatis

A lockdown may reduce the number of cases, but will not have a permanent effect, epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis told KYPE, adding that what needs to be done to reduce cases is to have high vaccination coverage.

Dr. Voniatis said that "a temporary measure, which can reduce the number of cases is to make a lockdown again. But if we continue not to be vaccinated again, when the various activities open we will have an increase in cases. We can not close and open continuously, this way the problem is not solved. We must see it realistically, practically. We have enough documentation that we can achieve this with vaccinations. "Unfortunately, we have not achieved the desired level, which must exceed 80% if not 85%," he said.

He clarified that "a lockdown with a fast and high vaccination program can have an effect, but without vaccinations a lockdown to reduce the cases will not have a permanent effect".

Dr. Voniatis said that the increased number of cases recorded during this period was expected due to the relaxations that took place, with the fact that the vaccination program did not proceed very quickly and with the invasion of the Delta mutation, while personal protection measures are not observed cases from around the world.

Asked, he noted that we will have further increases in the number of cases recorded daily.

"We already have several people in hospital and young people intubated. "All this should concern us," he added.

Respondent said that the measures, which are being taken at the moment, are not some measures that can reduce the problem immediately because even if we increase our vaccination program at the moment by 10-15% we will not see the difference, if not no months pass.

It seems, he continued, that not all protocols are observed, mainly restaurants and recreation areas, while the owners do not want to control the situation, so we will not see a reduction.

Unless we have reached a peak, he added, and we will begin to see a fall, which is a little early to say.

In another question, Dr. Voniatis said that we will face a problem in September, when the children will go to school and the mutation will definitely intensify no matter what we do.

"If we vaccinate another 20% of the population in the summer months, we will have a chance not to have a further increase but also to see a decrease even in September. But if we continue at this pace and the virus is circulating, those who find themselves unvaccinated will be infected. "Because the Indian strain infects people who have only the first dose of the vaccine, it is possible to see cases among the vaccinated at a rate of 10-15%," he added.

I believe, said Dr. Voniatis, that restrictive measures will be difficult to impose. "They will be imposed mainly in restaurants and leisure areas and we will have reactions again. The issue is to intensify the vaccination program, to strengthen it and for everyone to come without exception for vaccination if we want to get rid of this situation ".