Coronavirus: Most elderly Covid patients in Larnaca Hospital unvaccinated

The majority of elderly patients with coronavirus who are currently hospitalised at Larnaca general hospital are unvaccinated, the facility’s director Dr Adamos Hadjipanayis told the Cyprus News Agency on Friday, before adding that the only weapon against the virus is the vaccine.

“There are 25 patients with coronavirus in the Covid-19 ward of the hospital, four of whom are in the high dependency unit since they need closer monitoring. The average age of the patients is 60 years, but there are patients of all ages from 30 to 80 years old,” he said.

“Elderly patients, especially when they are unvaccinated, need closer monitoring because their situation can change rapidly and they might need more oxygen or to be intubated very suddenly.”

On Thursday, a record number of daily tests tracked 1,046 positives to the virus, of whom 12 were found in nursing homes in Larnaca.

“We keep repeating and emphasising that we have no other option against the coronavirus than to get the vaccine to protect both ourselves and those around us,” Hadjipanayis said.

“People who have not been vaccinated are harbouring the virus, and as a result, they can spread it into the community, resulting in more people getting sick with some needing hospitalisation and others, unfortunately, dying.”

Hadjipanayis added that the pressure on public hospitals is getting more and more intense and that the Covid-19 ward at Larnaca general is currently at full capacity.

“There are patients with Covid-19 who undergo various tests at the hospital’s A&E in order to understand at what stage they are with the virus and whether there are complications before they are transferred to the special ward.

“It is really a pity that the number of patients with coronavirus is constantly increasing in public hospitals. Everyone should take into account that for months now there has been a vaccine available, which could prevent the virus, or in the worst case, vaccinated people who catch the virus do not need hospitalisation,” Hadjipanayis lamented.

“The time has finally come for everyone to take responsibility, both individually and socially, so that, thanks to the vaccine, we can all go back to our lives as they were.

“However, no vaccination programme against any disease has ever succeeded if it was not universal. If our entire community is not fully vaccinated, it will be almost impossible to get rid of the virus,” he concluded.