Cyprus fourth among EU member-states in vaccine uptake

A total of 293,180 persons or 39.6% have received first vaccine dose against Covid while 12.4% of the Cyprus population has completed its inoculation programme, the Ministry of Health said in a press release, on Wednesday.

The Ministry added that total inoculations in Cyprus reached 384,639 and that Cyprus ranks 4th among EU member-states in vaccine uptake per 100 inhabitants, according to "Our World In Data" classification.

According to the Ministry the vaccination programme continues for younger ages, with the Vaccination Portal opening for persons aged 22-24 on Friday.

Persons aged between 50 – 55 years will have a new opportunity to book a vaccination date on Saturday while persons aged 56 – 58 years will also have the opportunity to book a vaccination date on Sunday, May 16, the Ministry added.

Vaccinations are administered at the vaccination centres operating throughout Cyprus with the available jabs. The Vaccination portal will remain closed on Thursday May 13, the Ministry said.

By May 11, 39.6% of the population or 293,180 persons have received a first vaccine dose, while 91,459 persons or 12.4% has completed it inoculation programme.

The effort to attain the target of vaccinating 65% of the population with the 1st dose by the first half of 2021 is underway aiming to provide persons over 18 years with the option to set a vaccination date within May, the Ministry said, noting that elderly persons who have not set a vaccination date so far will be given a new opportunity to do so.

Furthermore, vaccinations of persons aged over 30 years by General Practitioners with the AstraZeneca jab are continuing with 250,000 doses of the jab distributed to GPs.