The measures for the time and basis of the current epidemiological picture do not need further tightening, said the Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipandelas, to the Cyprus News Agency, who expressed the readiness of his Ministry to proceed with the granting of the third dose of vaccine in case the Council decide at next Wednesday's session.
Asked by KYPE to indicate whether the Council of Ministers will relax the measures for protection from Covid next week, Mr. Hatzipandelas said that it is "a little difficult to relax the measures", while rejecting the possibility of tightening them.
He expressed the assessment that the measures will remain the same, to note that at the next meeting of the Ministerial measures will be decided on the return of students to universities and possibly - if necessary - decisions will be made for primary and secondary schools.
Asked about the administration of the third dose of vaccine and whether the Government is oriented to take a decision, before the decision of the European Medicines Agency (EOF), the Minister of Health replied that "the European Medicines Agency will either decide on the administration of a third dose , or will not issue ", to add that the Council of Ministers" will consider whether it will wait for a decision from the AEO or not ".
Asked to comment on yesterday's statements by epidemiologists, who say that regardless of Coreper's decision, Cyprus should proceed with the third installment, Mr. Hadjipandelas said that he asked the epidemiologists to give their positions on the issue in writing by Friday. .
He also noted that he has asked in writing for their positions in relation to the so-called "mix and match", ie vaccination with a different company or technology vaccine from the original, and for whom the third dose will be given initially.
In the meantime, he stated that he has already talked to experts from abroad since yesterday and has received opinions on the subject, to add that his Ministry is at the same time planning and is ready in case it is decided to start the third dose of vaccine.
However, he added that this issue needs a political decision and he can not commit their colleagues in the Ministry for what they will want to decide. He said, finally, that he will present the data before the Minister, who will decide accordingly whether he will wait for Coreper or not.