Eugena Tomini, head of the Institute of Public Health, told Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) that the Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus continues to account for the majority of detected COVID-19 cases.

“Omicron subvariants are dominant globally, and XFG is among those accounting for around 90% of cases,” Tomini said.

She added that COVID-19 is currently spreading at a “normal seasonal level” as temperatures begin to drop in early autumn.

Unlike other respiratory viruses, Tomini noted that COVID-19 has maintained a constant presence in Albania, without the sharp fluctuations typical of influenza or other seasonal infections.

As the flu vaccination campaign gets underway, no confirmed cases of influenza have been reported so far this season, Tomini said, stressing the importance of timely vaccination.

The flu shot is offered free of charge and is available to the entire population, including children over six months old, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and those working in high-exposure environments such as teachers and police officers.

Tomini urged the public to get vaccinated to help reduce the number of severe flu cases and prevent potential fatalities.

Family doctors are informing patients about the campaign, while healthcare workers are among the first to be vaccinated, both to protect themselves and reduce transmission risks to vulnerable patients.

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Tomini said that there are no elements related to the new sub-variant reported in the USA.

At the same time, the head of the Institute took the opportunity to appeal to citizens to be careful with hygiene, especially during this hot period.

“We are in coordination with the relevant international structures, the situation is calm from the epidemiological evaluation, but in the summer season, there should be increased the respiratory and hygienic control measures”, she said.

Tomini added that even though we are not in the flu season, Covid-19 has shown that it is present throughout the year.

“We must be careful to the respiratory signs, headache, fever, which are characteristic of any virus, but Covid-19, like any other infectious disease, must be based on hygiene and respiratory etiquette to avoid infection in others”, Tomini affirmed.

Tomini added that seasonal allergies or respiratory infections are present, but the number is low compared to the peak. The infections, Tomini said, are mainly pulmonary due to the hot weather. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

Videos of crowded hospitals with patients with respiratory illness caused by HMPV virus in China have flooded social media over the last few days.

In a press statement, Tomini said that there is no reason for panic in Albania after the most recent outbreak of the HMPV virus in China, in addition to the seasonal flu and the COVID-19, which has alarmed national and international health bodies.

The Director of the Public Health Institute underlined that serological studies have testified that HMPV is not a new virus, but it exists in the world since 2001 and it is a common respiratory pathogen.

“The human metapneumovirus was first identified in 2001 as a zoonotic disease and the cause of respiratory disease in children from the Netherlands and is a cause of community-acquired influenza-like illness,” Tomini said.

According to her, there is no reason for panic, since colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are common in colder winter months. However, she warned that the situation may worsen amid the seasonal flu, COVID-19 and respiratory virus outbreak and certain patients may need care and hospitalization.

According to her, “HMPV virus has been circulating across Albania previously, but no cases of the respiratory diseases have been reported so far.”

“A number of HMPV virus cases were confirmed by the laboratory of the Public Health Institute last year,” she said.

HMPV is most common in children and young adults and it can cause pneumonia in children and the elderly with impaired immune systems and with underlying health conditions.

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“No suspected or confirmed case of the new Covid omicron variant has been recorded in Albania,” the Deputy Health Minister said told reporters.

Tomini explained that the Public Health Institute has not detected any omicron case based on the PCR testing results of the suspected samples.

She also said that the pandemic situation has stabilized over the past four weeks in Albania.

“For more than four weeks, the situation seems stable, despite the daily fluctuations in number of the cases testing positive for Covid,” Deputy Health Minister noted, adding that the situation remains totally under control.

Experts recommend full two-dose vaccination, as well as increasing vaccine coverage of the population as a way for the situation to further stabilize.

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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./

Tomini said in a TV interview that individuals who have contracted Delta strain haven’t developed severe symptomatic illness, while the vaccinated people, who have contracted the virus, have shown mild symptoms without needing treatment and hospitalization.

Tomini added that the individuals who have been infected after having received the vaccines show much milder symptoms than the unvaccinated people.

According to the Deputy Health Minister, all the COVID-19 vaccines used in the country are 95 to 100% effective against the severe symptoms and all COVID-19 variants.

“Delta strain is the most transmissible variant yet – as much as 60 percent more contagious than the Alpha variant. It is a highly transmissible variant,” Tomini added.

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Tomini told a TV interview that Albanian citizens will be allowed to travel by presenting a negative PCR test even if the European Union member states refuse to recognize or approve the Chinese or Russian vaccines against the COVID-19,

“In addition to the application through the vaccine passport, Albanian travelers can also present the negative COVID-19 test taken in past 48 to 72 hours before travelling. Therefore, Albanian citizens won’t be denied entry to EU countries because of being vaccinated with various coronavirus jabs,” she said.

In the meantime, the individuals who have recovered from COVID won’t be able to travel abroad by showing the vaccination certificate only and therefore they should undergo test 48 hours before travelling.

No European country has so far made a final decision whether to allow or not travellers or visitors from non-EU countries.

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In her remarks, Tomini noted that, this kind of downward trend should be maintained, while the current measures will be evaluated dynamically, but given the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, there is a good chance that this summer could bring the pandemic relief, different from the previous year,” Tomini said.//a.i/

Tomini said that by the beginning of June, the population expected to be vaccinated will be at the level of half a million.

“The first day has a very good pace and we anticipate that while keeping this pace, by the end of May, the first week of June we anticipate the vaccination of the population will be at the level of half a million”, stated Tomini.

Tomini said that in the first week of April other doses from Pfizer are expected to be delivered, as provided in the contract. “There have been four consecutive deliveries by Pfizer Co. Then, there is the second batch of Corona-Vax which will be delivered in the following weeks of April. Within the Covax instrument, there will be provided the other contracted quantity “.

Regarding the situation from COVID-19 in the country, the deputy minister said that there is a decrease in positive cases.

“The level of positive cases seems to be declining. This cycle tends to recur at the top of 5 weeks. We say, we are in a situation with a downward trend,” she added./p.s./

In a television interview, Tomini said that, “We are currently negotiating for the Chinese vaccine. We are still in the draft contracting. When the contract ends, we will be aware of how much doses we will receive. In the next 72 hours, we will have details on the contract for the Chinese vaccine. We do not have anything definitively defined.”

Regarding the Russian vaccine Sputnik, she said that, “There are over 40 countries that have received Sputnik and are administering it in their countries”.

Asked if the Chinese vaccine is more likely than the Russian one to be blamed for the lack of information, Tomini said: “Certainly based on Chinese vaccine studies, the side effects or minimal side effects versus the severe forms that the COVID-19 clinic exhibits are negligible for both types of vaccines.”

“Regulatory bodies in the countries that have produced it and regulatory bodies in countries that are intermediate distributors between China and other countries have given approval for the certification of vaccines in their countries,” said Tomini.

Tomini further stated that, “The increased influx of infections and non-receipt of the claimed amount of western vaccines opened the possibilities for other channels”./k.s/p.s./