Coronavirus: Vaccine slots open for those aged 67 and over

The health ministry announced that 22,808 vaccination slots will open on Tuesday for people aged 67 and over. The vaccination portal will open at 8am, it added.

Vaccinations against the coronavirus have picked up momentum as deliveries have increased. A senior health ministry official told CyBC radio on Tuesday that Cyprus expects to take delivery of about 120,000 vaccines in March.

As of March 7, a total of 99,275 jabs have been administered with 28,741 people having received both doses and 70,534 the first dose. The ministry said that 1,277 people who fall within the vulnerable groups of the population have also been administered the first dose of the vaccine.

Vaccination of people at high risk of illness is expected to pick up over the next few days, with the aim of at least 30,000 receiving the first jab before the end of the month, it added.

According to European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) figures released by the health ministry on Tuesday, Cyprus is ranked joint third in the EU in terms of the uptake of the first dose of the vaccine with 9.20 per cent of people aged over 18.

In addition, based on data from the website OurWorldIn Data, Cyprus remains first among EU countries with at least one dose administered with 11.42 doses per 100 people (figures up to March 5), the ministry said.

Cyprus has met the EU target of vaccinating at least 80 per cent of health professionals by March, in line with ECDC guidelines and has satisfied the target of providing protection through vaccination to people aged over 75 who are at increased risk of serious illness and death.