In 63,6% reached the percentage of the population vaccinated with 1η dose of vaccines against COVID-19 and, at the same time, 47,8% of the population has been fully vaccinated with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or both doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines.
Despite the increase in vaccination coverage, the percentage of vaccinated people in the age groups of 18-19 and 20-29 remains quite low. Just the 27,3% of people aged 18-19have received at least 1η dose of the vaccine while in the ages 20-29 vaccination coverage reached 35,1%. It is recalled that the respective percentages last week were 25,8% and 32,9%. Vaccination of the ages is moving steadily 30-39, with the percentage being at 52,3%. In their age groups 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69, the vaccination rate is at a very high level, having reached 72,5%, 71,6% and 81,6% respectively. The rate is even higher at ages 70-79 (91,3%) and 80 years and older (91,8%).
High vaccination coverage in people over 40 has led to a large reduction in the number of cases at these ages, with attention being focused at this time on people aged 18-39. Lately, more than 75% of the positive cases detected are people under 40 years of age, of which 43% are people aged 18-39, without a vaccination history. Even more worrying is the fact that in hospitalizations, there is an increase in the incidence of young people, who have a serious morbidity and in many cases need hospitalization in Intensive Care Units or Intensive Care Units. The median age of the patients is 54 years and more than 90% of those treated are not vaccinated.
The detection of the Indian mutation, which has been shown to be much more contagious even than the British strain of the virus, makes the need for vaccination of young people even more urgent. Studies in England and Scotland have shown that Unvaccinated and young people are more prone to Indian mutation and have twice the risk of serious illness and hospitalization. At the same time, the ECDC notes that vaccination with both doses both AstraZeneca vaccine and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is effective and prevents a high percentage of hospitalizations (92% and 96% respectively).
In relation to the vaccination coverage per Province, Paphos continues to be in first place with 72,9% of its population has received at least 1η dose of the vaccine. Respectively, in the Province of Nicosia the coverage is 64,5%, in Famagusta 64,1%, in Limassol 61,2% and in Larnaca 59,4%.
The safe operation of business and social activity depends significantly on the epidemiological picture recorded. At European Union level, but also in third countries such as Russia and the United Kingdom, on which the tourism industry is based, Cyprus is assessed taking into account not only the epidemiological and hospital indicators, but also the vaccination coverage of its population.
It calls on all citizens, especially young people, to plan their vaccination as soon as possible, thus utilizing the weapon that science offers us to get out of the health crisis. A possible setback will have catastrophic consequences for the society, the workers, the economy, the tourism and the entrepreneurship of our place.