Speaking to reporters, PM Rama said that, “The third dose of anti-Covid vaccine is a necessity to be more protected during the winter even under conditions when the whole world is worried about the new Omicron variant.”

“I got the third vaccine today by random selection. I wonder how is it possible that in the 21st century there is no confidence in science?” Rama emphasized.

The vaccine does not protect you from infection, but it does protect you from death, they pass it on to mild symptoms, said PM Rama.

“What else can be said today other than get vaccinated, get vaccinated. Austria is completely in lockdown; other countries are taking all kinds of measures and we bear responsibility “, said Rama.

PM Rama also took the opportunity to convey a message to the state administration employees. “I tell all those who are officials of this state to get vaccinated because the moment may come when they should be stopped from going to work without having an online vaccination card. If they were forbidden to go to work, they will not be paid from the citizens’ taxes, because they do not want to be vaccinated. The moment may come that people cannot be allowed to enter the markets. I also tell those who have shops to be vaccinated because the store can be closed if they are not vaccinated. The majority of the population cannot be endangered because the rest opposes science, their own health and that of their families.”

The head of the government said that even the students in the universities should be vaccinated because the day may come when they will not be allowed to enter the auditorium without being vaccinated.

In answer to question on when Albania will become like Italy, France or other countries that without the vaccine card cannot enter public institutions, private, universities, etc., Rama said that, “This is not decided by me, not by the government; this is decided by the Committee of Experts. We will not make political decisions ourselves.” /k.s/j.p/p.s./

“In Albania, vaccine coverage with at least one dose is 47%. 42% of the target population over 16 years old. I am referring here to the figures for the group we intend to vaccinate because I would like to provide here another piece of information that is just as important. Beginning from today, every citizen +18 years old can get the third dose of the vaccine if 6 months have passed since the application of the second dose”, said Manastirliu.

Minister Manastirliu said that the government has guaranteed funding for vaccines, in order to meet the national anti-Covid vaccination program.

“The Albanian government has guaranteed vaccines and they are available to the entire target population. So far, the Albanian government has funded $ 36 million for the purchase of anti-COVID vaccines. We have projected another $ 27 million for next year, with the goal of completing the national anti-COVID vaccination program. This agreement that we bring today for approval facilitates the procedures for Pfizer vaccines that are donated by other countries, which helps us to increase the availability of vaccines in a very fast time”, said Manastirliu.

At the end of her speech, Manastirliu made an appeal to citizens to be vaccinated if we want to celebrate and approach the end of the pandemic, while emphasizing that respect for public health measures is very important.

A total of 2,111,797 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered since the start of vaccination process. The first 1,075,332 doses have been administered; 965,964 second doses; 70,501 third doses./k.s/j.p/p.s./

So far, since the start of vaccination process there have been administered a total of 1,963,359 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Over 1 million citizens have received at least one dose of the anti-COVID vaccine.

One of the important pillars of the 2022 budget is the financing of the national mass anti-COVID vaccination program, for which an amount of ALL 2.7 billion has been allocated.

The budget 2022 for health is 7 billion ALL more or, 12.6% from the initial plan of the budget of 2021. Investments during 2022 for the Ministry of Health and Social Protection together with the financing of the partners, reach the value of 3 billion ALL. Part of these investments is continuation of the national program of 300 medical centres. The new budget will finance the rehabilitation of 50 centres across the country./p.s./

The booster vaccine will be applied to citizens who are over 60 years old and to those persons who have passed more than 6 months from receiving the second dose.

The Committee of Experts has also decided to lower the age limit for the vaccination, in line with the international experience, up to 16 years and 12 years for children with health problems. But, the experts have clarified that vaccination of the population with the first two doses of the vaccine remains a priority.

Since the start of the vaccination process against Covid-19, there have been administered a total of 1,900,000 doses of COVID vaccines. Of these, about 885,613 citizens have received both doses of the anti-COVID vaccine.

Vaccination is open and all citizens over 18 years of age can show their ID card at their medical centre, polyclinic or nearest vaccination centre, every day, from 08:00 to 20:00, for performing the anti-COVID vaccine. So far, 2,496,960 antiCOVID vaccines have been delivered in our country./p.s./

Invited to a TV studio, Tomini said that, “Currently, the supply is greater than the demand, so there are vaccine doses available”.

“Certainly, there is an attempt to increase the vaccine coverage which is 43% of people getting one dose and 35% with both doses. Meanwhile, by the end of December we have a new contract regarding ‘Pfizer'”, she said.

Tomini stressed that, “The Technical Committee has given opinions and discusses against the alternatives of a third dose over the age of 65”.

She also said that, “Different protocols applied in the world have made the combination of vaccines of different types. Even Turkey, after two doses of Sinovac has applied Pfizer”, said Tomini, while adding that “in Albania no vaccine has gone in vain, so far”. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

During the press conference, after the government meeting, Vitia said that they have drafted a capacity building plan for field hospitals.

“Based on the latest information, we believe that this will not be necessary. We have also completed the recruitment of medical personnel,” he said.

Besides, the minister of health called for vaccination.

“We have over 600,000 safe vaccines in our stocks, so citizens need to be vaccinated,” he said.

And based on the analysis of the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, Vitia said that it may be necessary even the third vaccine. Therefore, the government has started negotiations for the purchase of 1 million more vaccines.

“Based on the analysis of the Institute, the third vaccine will be needed; therefore we have started negotiations for the purchase of 1 million more vaccines”, said Minister Vitia./KosovaPress/p.s./