St. Sunday: The distribution of the adapted vaccines started on Monday

The new vaccines are adapted for the Omicron subvariant BA1 of the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 have started to be distributed to member states since Monday, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou said on Wednesday evening, after the conclusion of the informal meeting of Health Ministers in Prague, which took place in the framework of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Following the green light for approval of the first adapted vaccines by the European Medicines Agency, he said, "we have ensured that the vaccines delivered from September onwards will be adapted mRNA vaccines, covering both the original strain and the Omicron".

The Commissioner referred to the recommendations issued by the competent health services for the use of adapted vaccines against COVID-19, and in particular the recommendation to give priority to people over 60 with underlying diseases.

In addition to vaccinations, he said, there should be robust systems to monitor the development of the virus, as well as strategies to restore public health measures if necessary, but also to strengthen the capacity of health systems.

He also noted that for the first time the board of directors of HERA met at Ministerial level in the context of the meeting of the Ministers of Health, with the aim of adapting the supply of vaccines to the demand.

"The pandemic is not over, and we need to convey this clearly to the citizens," he stressed, adding that "vaccination and boosters remain our strongest assets against the virus."

Ms. Kyriakidou reiterated that one of the main messages she conveyed to the Ministers of Health was the urgent need to formulate strong vaccination strategies, which will include clear communication to citizens about which vaccines they can receive, including new and adapted ones.

The Commissioner even referred to the need to promote vaccinations to deal with the spread of monkey pox, and to the Commission's announcement to purchase another 170.000 doses for the member states, bringing the collective number of vaccines purchased with European funds to 334.000 doses.

He also noted that he informed the Ministers about the proposal that the Commission will submit at the end of September in the context of the plan to combat cancer, and which will concern a new EU recommendation for screening.

KYPE