Coronavirus: Paphos leads in vaccination coverage as ministry steps up campaign

Paphos continues to rank first among all districts as regards vaccination coverage the health ministry said on Thursday.

The target for 65 per cent of the population to have received a first jab by the end of June was achieved, the ministry said while the effort to boost the population’s vaccination coverage continues.

“As the virus mutates and the new variants become more aggressive leading to a great increase of transmission and more serious illness especially among unvaccinated people, there is a need for further vaccination to increase immunity in the population and to limit as much as possible the spread of the disease,” the ministry said.

On Wednesday, 3,085 vaccination appointments were booked with 2,200 concerning 16 and 17-year-olds.

The ministry said that 64.6 per cent of the population has received the first dose while 50.2 per cent is now fully vaccinated. “The effort is intensified, in order to achieve higher vaccination coverage in the coming months, something that will offer multiple social and economic benefits for society as a whole,” the ministry said.

As of Wednesday, the vaccination portal is open for everyone over 16.

Until June 30, 28.5 per cent of the 18 to 19 age group has been vaccinated with at least the first dose, 36.5 per cent of the 20 to 29-year-olds and 53.5 per cent of the 30 to 39 group.

The vaccination coverage of the 40 to 49s has reached 73.4 per cent, 72.3 per cent among the 50 to 59 group and 82.2 per cent of the 60 to 69 group.

It added that the vaccination cover reached a very high percentage of 91.7 per cent in the 70 to 79 age group and 92.2 per cent among people over 80.

By district, Paphos continues to rank first with 73.8 per cent, followed by Famagusta and Nicosia with 65.9 per cent and 65.5 per cent respectively. In the Limassol district 62 per cent has received at least the first dose and in Larnaca, 60.1 per cent.

Th health ministry said that the government’s efforts were focused on raising the vaccination coverage “to safeguard public health and, consequently, to create those conditions that will primarily lead the people and businesses in Cyprus to safely return to normalcy and at the same time make our country a safe destination for foreigners.”

The government is expected to announce on Friday incentives to boost vaccination coverage. Among the suggestions discussed on Wednesday by a ministerial committee on Covid-19 was granting extra leave to soldiers who have either been vaccinated or will do so in the near future.

Another suggestion considered was raising the occupancy rate in places such as stadiums, cinemas, theatres, etc, provided that spectators are vaccinated. Interested businesses would therefore be allowed to let in more than the 50 per cent of their capacity that applies now.

Bringing back the SafePass for outdoor areas was also discussed.