Coronavirus: More than half a million vaccines given (update 2)

Cyprus has administered more than half a million coronavirus jab doses, with 20 per cent of the eligible population having completed their vaccination, the health ministry announced on Saturday.

The ministry said it has so far administered 504,008 vaccination doses.

Of them, 356,376 concerned the first dose of the vaccine, translating to 48.2 per cent of the eligible population to receive the vaccine, while another 147,632 people, 20 per cent, completed their vaccination.

The data translates to 57,3 vaccine doses per 100 residents.

“According to the ECDC, the vaccination rate in Cyprus is well above the European Union average, where 39.6 per cent of the population was vaccinated with the first dose, while 16.6 per cent completed their vaccination,” the ministry said.

Cyprus is ranked fourth among EU Member States in terms of vaccinations given.

In a call to the public to get vaccinated, the ministry reiterated that vaccination is “the most powerful scientific weapon available against the pandemic” which would lead to “immunity, reduction of cases and mainly hospitalisations and deaths”.

Permanent Secretary of the health ministry Christina Yiannaki said that more 18,500 vaccination appointments were due to take place this weekend.

The country has set a goal to vaccinate up to 65 per cent of the population by the end of June.

Some 12,261 vaccinations were scheduled for Saturday, Yiannaki said, while another 6,500 are scheduled for Sunday.

Meanwhile, more than 7,000 people aged 46 to 49 booked a vaccination appointment against coronavirus on Saturday according to the health ministry.

Some 7,015 out of 11,220 vaccination appointments made available for the age group on Friday were booked by the closing of the online portal at 5.30pm on Saturday, the ministry said.

On Sunday, the vaccination portal will remain closed.

On Monday, the vaccination portal will open for people aged 43 to 45 at 7.30am until Tuesday 5.30pm.

On Wednesday, people aged 40 to 42 will be able to book an appointment starting 7.30am to 5.30pm.

People aged 70 and over can access the portal on Thursday between 7.30am and 5.30pm.

The portal will reopen at the same time again on Friday for those aged 29 to 37.

Meanwhile, people aged 20 and older may book an appointment with the AstraZeneca jab through their personal doctor.