Coronavirus: Over 80-year-olds book all vaccination slots within hours of portal opening

With more than 3,000 signing up already, appointments for coronavirus vaccines for over 80-year-olds ran out within hours of the vaccinations portal going online on Tuesday, the health ministry said.

New appointments for the same age group will open up again on Monday, once more shots are available, it added.

The second phase of Covid-19 vaccinations will kick off on January 8.

The public portal where people can arrange an appointment for a jab went live on Tuesday, only to be immediately flooded by appointment requests.

The number of appointments available on the portal were based on available vaccines which were delivered last Tuesday, the ministry said.

The ministry added that another 6,825 doses were delivered on Monday, in line with the agreed schedule.

Health authorities have classified the population according to risk, age, etc, and are expecting to wrap vaccinations to frontline health staff and care home residents this week.

The programme will then move to the second group, the over 80s who do not live in care homes or other organised facilities.

The portal is available on the Gesy website. https://www.gesy.org.cy/

For information on the vaccine call 1474, for website issues call 1700