Coronavirus: 8,855 vaccine slots booked in two hours

People aged 18 to 21 booked 8,855 vaccination appointments in the first two hours of the portal opening for their age group on Monday, the health ministry said.

A total of 15,920 slots were made available for this age group at 7.30 am on Monday. The portal will remain open until 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The health ministry is pushing ahead with vaccinations as part of efforts to administer at least the first dose of the vaccine to 65 per cent of the adult population by the end of June.

Up until Saturday 324,573 people (43.9 per cent) had received the first dose of a vaccine while 108,789 (14.7 per cent) have completed their vaccination regimen. In Cyprus, the ministry said, from December 27, 2020 until May 15, 2021, a total of 433,362 vaccinations took place, which is 49.3 doses per 100 inhabitants.

According to the ministry, Paphos is ahead with 46.6 per cent of the eligible population having been vaccinated so far. In Nicosia, 43.7 per cent of the population have been vaccinated, in Larnaca, 42.3 per cent, in Limassol, 41.7 per cent and in the Famagusta district, 40 per cent.

Over the next few days, the vaccination portal will open to different age groups to give the opportunity to those who missed their turn to book an appointment.

The portal will open at 7.30am on Wednesday for those aged 61 to 65 and will remain open until 5.30pm on Thursday.

On Friday at 7.30am until Saturday 5.30pm, people aged 46 to 49 will also have a second chance to book an appointment.