COVID-19 Vaccinations Start in Cyprus
December 27, 2020
Vaccinations against COVID-19 started today in Cyprus with healthcare workers and the elderly living in old folk’s homes.
Two pensioners living in the Nicosia Retirement Home, 84-year-old Andreas Raounas and 88-year-old Panagiota Loizou-Fylactou, were the first two recipients of the vaccine. President Nicos Anastasiades was also vaccinated against the contagious and potentially deadly disease.
Healthcare workers in Famagusta Hospital were innoculated today.
Doubts remain that people who suffer from allergies and asthma can be vaccinated safely after Pfizer/BioNTech reported serious adverse reactions from people in this group.
In the last two days, lower infection rates were reported by the Health Ministry, likely because testing was reduced because of the holidays.
The vaccination programme raises hopes that the authorities have a real weapon against the virus after nine months of punishing measures failed to prevent a serious resurgence of new cases and deaths.
The pandemic has devastated the global and local economies and triggered widespread mental health illnesses, according to experts.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
