One hundred and sixty-two people to receive booster shots on Friday

One hundred and sixty-two people living in nursing homes are expected to be vaccinated today, Friday, with the third dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

According to Christina Giannaki, General Director of the Ministry of Health, the booster shots will be given to 90 people in Larnaca, 30 people in Nicosia and 42 people in Paphos. It began today at 8:30am and will continue until noon.

In the coming days, the administration of the 3rd vaccine shot (booster shot) will continue in accordance with program guidelines set up by the Ministry of Health.  "We are moving forward very dynamically, we want to help people and we also want to achieve the goals set by the Minister of Health", said Christina Giannaki.

The Council of Ministers decided yesterday to begin administering the third dose of the vaccine to people over 65 years of age, to residents of nursing homes, to immunocompromised people regardless of age, as well as to health professionals, given that a period of six months had elapsed after they had been fully vaccinated.

The General Director of the Ministry of Health noted that to date the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated with the first dose amounts to 78.8%, while 74.5% have completed their vaccination regimen.  The number of people who have been vaccinated under the walk-in program has risen to 47,000, according to Ms. Giannaki.

Regarding the ages of 16-17, the percentage that has received the first dose amounts to 36.8% or about 7,000 people. And approximately 7,000 people between the ages of 12-15 are also vaccinated with the first dose.

Mrs. Giannakis noted, "The goal of the Minister of Health was to have 80% of the population vaccinated with at least the first dose by the end of August. We are currently at almost 79%.