Coronavirus: Confusion over handling of vaccine policy  

Confusion and concern have arisen at the Covid-19 vaccination centres as some reported queues lasting hours while others bristled at sudden policy switches and a lack of clarity.

Many have complained over the handling of the vaccines, saying that they are being implored by the government to get their shots but face difficulties in doing so.

It was reported that those queueing for a third Pfizer jab at the state fair in Nicosia were suddenly told, an hour after waiting in line, that their vaccine of choice was no longer available and that only second shots were to be given.

Others reported that they were waiting for Pfizer but were then suddenly only offered Moderna.

Constantinos Athanasiou, head of the health ministry’s press office, said there were no issues with the availability of the Pfizer vaccine and that a new batch was due to arrive.

The lack of availability only concerned the supply of jabs allocated to the centre for the day, he said.

He said that a decision had been made for the walk-in vaccination centres to offer a specific vaccine per day, alternating between Moderna and Pfizer.

Some have complained that they are being put in a difficult position, being led to “mix and match” – which has been deemed safe to do so by the health authorities – but some people are still concerned.

Students who return from abroad for the holidays will only be offered Moderna as their booster dose, regardless of their original vaccination.

Others who received non-mRNA shots as part of their initial regimen have long complained at the lack of choices for their booster, as the health ministry announced that those who received AstraZeneca will only have mRNA options.

But Pfizer has long been the most ‘popular’ choice in Cyprus vaccination against Covid-19.

Last week, Reuters reported that the Moderna vaccine, which is stronger, was found to be up to four times more likely than Pfizer’s to cause inflammation of the heart muscle, a rare side-effect, according to a Danish study.

The study, in which almost 85 per cent of Danes, or 4.9 million individuals, aged 12 and older participated, investigated the link between mRNA-based vaccines and heart inflammation, also known as myocarditis or myopericarditis.

The researchers found one case per 71,400 vaccinated with Pfizer and one case per 23,800 vaccinated with Moderna. Most of the cases had been mild, the study said.

Pfizer’s vaccine was only associated with a higher risk of heart inflammation among women, the study said, contrasting with the results of the studies from Israel and the United States.