Vaccine advisory information from the health ministry

[galexinda]

With the vaccine rollout due to begin in Cyprus on Sunday, the health ministry on Friday issued an advisory to the public as to what they can expect during and after the jab.

According to the ministry, the vaccine reduces the risk of being infected but some people may still become infected with Covid, despite the job. If so, the vaccine may reduce the symptoms associated with coronavirus as long as people make sure to have their two doses.

“Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective… that’s why even after the vaccination the person must apply the usual practices of personal hygiene and protection, such as frequent hand washing, maintaining social distance and using a face mask,” the ministry said.

The ministry said the vaccine cannot cause coronavirus to develop in a person.

It said people must make sure, before they leave the vaccination centre, to make an appointment for the second dose.

“For better protection it is required to be vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine,” it added. People will receive a card with a reminder date.

“Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them,” said the ministry.

“Most of them are mild and do not last long and certainly do not happen to everyone.”

It stressed, however, that even if someone presents with symptoms after the first dose, they should take the second dose for better protection.

Common side effects of the Pfizer (Comirnaty mRNA vaccine) include:
• sensitivity at the injection site
• swelling at the injection site
• redness at the injection site
• shivers
• feelings of tiredness
• headaches
• motion sickness
• muscle pain (myalgia) or joint pain (arthralgia)
• discomfort
• feeling feverish
• swollen glands (lymphadenopathy)

The ministry said symptoms usually last less than a week.

“However, if your symptoms seem to worsen or if you are concerned contact your personal physician,” it said.

Any suspected serious adverse reactions must be reported through the national adverse reaction system to the pharmaceutical services by submitting the ‘yellow card’ in the following ways:

Online submission: http://www.kitrinikarta.gov.cy

Printed Send of the Yellow Card available from the website of the Pharmaceutical Services:
https://www.moh.gov.cy/phs

• By mail (toll free): Pharmacovigilance Unit, Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health CY-1475, Nicosia, telephone 22608607

• Submission by fax to the number +357 22608669

https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/25/coro ... -advisory/

[trevnhil]

I am still puzzled as to how and when we will get notification to go for the jab and where ?

[jeba]

Given that vaccinations are supposed to start tomorrow I´d think it´s about time that they tell you where to get it.

[PolemIan]

I think that they will just broadcast that certain priority groups can now book an appointment and that notifications will only be issued as a reminder for the second dose, which you’ll book whilst on-site for the first one.

All the indications on the COVID press releases on the PIO website suggest that an online portal will be set up, I imagine linked to GESY, along the the lines of the Immunisation Information Systems design recommendations issued by the ECDC. Cyprus has indicated that the portal will only allow you to access the system and book an appointment in-line with the priority categories. I haven’t seen anything yet actually launching the system, but it must be pretty imminent. I interpret the start of rollout tomorrow as just the televised event of the President getting his first dose.

Ian

[PhotoLady]

We've all been receiving texts from our medical centre - in UK.
If you're enrolled through GESY won't they have your details to contact you?

[Mrblobby]

It has been announced where the first vaccinations will be .

“The first vaccinations on Sunday will take place at a care home and at the reference hospital in Famagusta.“

https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/26/cypr ... 8KQUOzkkCU

[Mike J]

Looks like it’s going to be slow going , this from the Financial Mirror

“Based on the national vaccination plan for COVID-19, the total amount of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines available for Cyprus is 391,637 (divided into 2 doses per person) until the third quarter of 2021.
A quantity of 48,955 will be distributed this month which corresponds to vaccinating 24,477 people.”

Some reports say everyone done by 3rd or 4th quarter of 2021 and others 1st Quarter of 2022 . It all depends on the distribution by the EU . There are about 66,000 citizens here over the age of 70 so 132,000 vaccines needed for them plus the medical staff in hospitals etc etc .
Has a quick look on the app for the UK and as a 73 year old I should expect to get the vaccine on or around Feb 1st.

[The Aquila]

Who will take up the option of a private vaccination if it becomes available?

[Mike J]

I would imagine quite a few aren’t willing to wait, if vaccines become available on the open market especially if this becomes a very long drawn out wait because the EU failed to order enough.
Seems we only got 5000 on the shipment met by the Health Minister and his press corps on Sunday .
“ The program was already explained by health services, Olga Kalakouta. The first batch of 5k will be given to people living or working in homes for the elderly and nursing establishments.
Second in line will be people over 80 years of age and those with chronic diseases, followed by healthcare professionals.
In Jan 168k vaccine doses will arrive from the EU distribution program. Additional doses are scheduled to arrive every three months, with the vaccination program being continued until the first quarter of 2022.“

[Galini]

I am still puzzled as to how and when we will get notification to go for the jab and where ?

I would think that your own doctor is the person to ask this question of. Certainly, Dr Molly in Peyia/Coral Bay is keeping her own patients informed.

[The Aquila]

I’m sure I read somewhere a while back that your local GP will inform you either text or a phone call when it’s your turn?

[Jimgward]

Anyone who takes a vaccine from a private source is off their trolley. The main pharma supplies will only go to governments and anything offered otherwise will either be illegal or from China or Russia or suspect. Since the Chinese and Russian variants have not been approved in Europe, as they haven’t shared enough information on the efficacy, then you’d be daft to take it.