A total of 130 children, aged 5 to 11, are scheduled to receive the coronavirus vaccine today, said Christina Giannaki, Director General of the Ministry of Health, who visited the Center for Maternity Protection and Child Welfare at the old Larnaca Hospital.
In her statements, Ms. Giannaki stated that "the vaccination started in Larnaca and until 10 in the morning ten vaccinations were given to children. "Children are being vaccinated today in Limassol, Polis Chrysochous, Kyperounta and the free province of Famagusta, while on Monday children will be vaccinated in Nicosia."
He added that "the children who came for vaccination were very happy but their parents were also very positive. "Child vaccination is important because it will shield the chain, while children will be protected at school from the coronavirus."
As Mrs. Giannaki "on Tuesday there will be a meeting at the Ministry of Health to see how the flow of vaccines is going and we will take the appropriate decisions to increase the days, but also the schedule depending of course on the availability we have. We will also see how many parents agree to bring their children for vaccination ", who after the vaccine receive a symbolic gift, two pencils and a Christmas fairy tale.
Asked whether Cyprus is the first country in the European Union to start vaccinating children aged five and over, Christina Giannaki answered in the affirmative and noted that "vaccines arrived last Monday and we are the first country in Europe to bring childhood vaccines ".
He noted that "at the moment we are in 86% of the population that has received the first dose, in 81,2% of people who were fully vaccinated with the second dose, while there is an increase in the vaccination of young people aged 15-17 and children 12-15 "We lay down our souls, we will work and we will continue this program."
He also stated that the Center currently has "the Deputy Director of Nursing Services and the Head of the Vaccination program, who together we design a program and implement it."
In a relevant question, Mrs. Giannaki replied that "today 130 vaccinations will be given throughout Cyprus to children aged 5 and over in all provinces, while in three weeks the second dose will be given. On Monday, the vaccinations will take place at the Latsia Center in Nicosia ", noting that" until yesterday, around 350 appointments were scheduled ".
He also stated that "we have great support from the President of the Pediatric Society, who is also a member of the National Advisory Committee on Vaccinations, which consists only of doctors. "Pediatricians influence children and have a different approach."
To another question he answered that "we will see how the flow of children who will be vaccinated today and then we will do our calculations and set our goals. "Today, on the first day, we want everything to go well, the children to be happy and I believe that we will have a great response, especially for the childhood vaccination, as we also had for the adults".
According to the General Director of the Ministry of Health, "while we were waiting for people to be vaccinated in August, they go to the Vaccination Centers this time and receive the first dose. Only yesterday we had a nationwide record, after 11.386 people were vaccinated for 1st, 2nd and 3rd dose, of which one thousand received the 1st dose.
Regarding the parents, who may be concerned about the vaccination of their children aged 5 and over, Christina Giannaki said that "parents should not be worried, since their children receive various vaccines, for diphtheria, for flu and hepatitis. I believe that parents should bring their children to be vaccinated for the well-meaning interest of their children, for their own health and in general for the well-understood interest of public health, since things are one way ".
Asked to comment on reports that the Ministry of Health is being criticized for taking decisions on measures without taking into account the suggestions of scientists, she replied that "we are doing the right thing and we will continue to do the right thing. This group is advisory, the Minister listens to their advice and then submits his proposal to the Council of Ministers ".
We, concluded Mrs. Giannaki "we will continue to do the right thing for the well-understood interest of public health and of our place in general".
It is noted that today it is planned to vaccinate 30 children aged 5-11 years in the old Limassol Hospital, 40 in the old Larnaca Hospital, 30 in the Famagusta Health Center and 30 in the Paphos General Hospital.
(KYPE / FZ / GBA)