The start of vaccinations with a booster, i.e. a third dose of vaccine, was announced by the President of the National Vaccination Committee Maria Theodoridou during the briefing on the National Vaccination Coverage Plan. Vaccinated persons in these categories will be able to book their appointment in about a week from today when a platform will be opened.
According to Ms Theodoriodou, the third dose is aimed at shielding people who, due to disease or treatment, have failed to achieve the required immune response. Also with this procedure, higher levels of antibodies are created to make up for the decrease over time.
On 17/8 at the joint meeting of the National Vaccination Committee and the Expert Committee, in order to exchange views on the booster dose of vaccine (third dose), it was decided to recommend the administration of mRNA for all. The Committees based on scientific evidence came to the recommendation for administration at 4 weeks after the second dose.
The persons to whom it will be administered are:
- Transplant recipients and people on the transplant list
- Blood donors
- Cancer patients with solid tumours and people being treated for cancer as well as for haematological cancers
- Immunosuppressed people such as people suffering from autoimmune or other diseases treated with immunotherapies and people with HIV.
There is a specific list for the latter, and this includes people who use cortisone over 20mg.
However, Ms. Ieodoridou stressed that the vaccination with two doses is the one that protects and even by 92% from death. Also the vaccinated people get the virus but by 65% the vaccinated people are less likely to transmit it.
