Coronavirus: 640 children jabbed on Sunday

A total of 640 children received a Covid jab on Sunday as one centre at the State Fair in Nicosia was open only to them.

The A centre was receiving only children aged five to 11 on Sunday from 8am to 2pm, both those with an appointment and walk-ins.

Visiting the site, general director of the ministry of health Christina Yiannaki said that by 11am a total of 400 children had been vaccinated.

She added that in previous days 900 children had and the next few days are set to see 2,180 who have booked an appointment get a jab.

She said there was a “titanic effort to get parents to agree to vaccinate their children.

The vaccinations on Sunday were carried out in association with the Cyprus Paediatric Society. Its president Michalis Anastasiades expressed “satisfaction” with the take-up rate so far.

Children of this age are given a special dose, which is one third of the adult Pfizer dose.

All vaccination centres on Monday and Tuesday will accept only walk-ins who are children of this age group on Monday too until 2pm, after which anyone can go.

Large vaccination centres for children will similarly operate on Saturday in Limassol and on Sunday January 15 in Trimiklini.