Coronavirus in Greece: 320 new cases, 322 patients on ventilators, 19 new deaths

V. Kontozamanis: The vaccination campaign is proceeding as planned. It will soon be available through the network and at health centers.

The vaccination campaign is proceeding smoothly, in accordance with the plan that has been drawn up, Deputy Health Minister Vasilis Kontozamanis assured, in response to a series of topical questions in the Plenary Session.

Starting today, the Deputy Minister of Health said, in addition to new vaccinations, the administration of the second dose has also begun for those who were vaccinated previously. He emphasized that vaccinations will soon begin at Health Centers as well, since, as he said, «it makes sense that primary care facilities will bear the brunt of the workload.» He explained that the decision was made «during the first phase of the vaccination campaign to conduct it within hospital facilities, in order to ensure a safe environment and to resolve any problems that might arise.».

Regarding the vaccination of vulnerable groups who are unable to visit vaccination centers, the Deputy Minister of Health stated that «there will certainly be a solution for them as well. The vaccines are for the entire population. We will not leave any of our fellow citizens who wish to be vaccinated without a vaccine.’.

Mr. Kontozamanis announced that, following a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency and approval by the European Commission, the marketing authorization for the vaccine and the corresponding package insert have been amended, and it is now possible to administer a sixth dose from the vaccine vials (instead of 5 doses) under specific terms and conditions, such as the use of a specific syringe. And as of this morning, instructions have been issued to the country’s healthcare facilities administering the vaccinations to proceed with the use of the sixth dose from each vial. «This is also related to the availability of the special syringes we have at our disposal. Therefore, our country is beginning to use the sixth dose, since this is now also stipulated in the product’s marketing authorization,» he said, adding that this development will increase the pace of vaccination in the country.

Responding to comments by SYRIZA MP Andreas Xanthos regarding why the country is not pressuring the EU to lift the patent restrictions, since that is the only way to produce more vaccines and achieve herd immunity, the Deputy Minister of Health recalled that «last April, the proposal was put forward by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an article he wrote for a German newspaper and by Professor Ilias Mosialos, so that Europe could better organize production and ensure an adequate supply of vaccines immediately and in a timely manner for European citizens.» At that time, he said, «it made sense to adopt this approach back then, when we didn’t yet have the vaccine in production.» Today, however, he said, «any proposal regarding nationalization or the acquisition of patents is unfounded. It will result in fewer or no vaccines at all, because no company will bear the cost of researching and developing new vaccines if it knows that its patents will be nationalized. There is also another issue: the production process and, above all, raw materials. If you don’t have the raw materials—even if you hold the patent—you won’t be able to produce vaccines.» The vaccines, the deputy minister emphasized, «are already being produced by pharmaceutical companies, and in any case, the circumstances have changed. However, it is one thing to purchase the patents for these products—which would also support the industries so they can continue their research and development of new products— and it is quite another to nationalize the patents.».

SYRIZA MP Andreas Xanthos insisted that «Greece, it is time to take the initiative, together with other countries in southern Europe or other European nations, and pressure the EU leadership to move in this direction—toward the liberalization ofvaccine production to European-certified vaccine manufacturing facilities or to countries with established capabilities in this sector, such as India and South Africa, so that this very important step that has already been taken can proceed at a faster pace.» As he noted, WHO data indicate a serious shortage of timely access for broader segments of the population. Specifically regarding our country, the SYRIZA MP said, «problems have arisen since the beginning of this vaccination effort and continue to exist […] the hospital-centric organization of vaccination centers is a mistake. There have also been problems with transparency, and there are still issues with prioritization,» he noted, adding that approximately 80,000 vaccinations have been administered in our country, which corresponds to 0.77% of the population, while the European average is 1.19%, and we lag behind other countries, such as the United Kingdom, which stands at 6.3%, the U.S., at 4.36%, and Israel, which has reached 26% of the population.

Support for Healthcare Workers

«It is the State’s duty to reward healthcare workers in every way possible, whether through a bonus or some other means,» said Deputy Minister of Health, Vasilis Kontozamanis, said in response to a related question from KINAL MP Andreas Poulis. He noted, however, that «financial resources are not inexhaustible, and this is the main reason we are particularly cautious about making announcements regarding benefits and allowances.» We are, he added, «the ones who are striving and want to find ways,» but «we are very cautious, and whatever we say, we want to be able to fully implement it.’ Announcements and promises that cannot be fulfilled will not be made by this government, at any cost. Because, above all, we want to look all our fellow citizens in the eye, and in this case, we want to preserve at all costs our sincere and transparent relationship with the country’s healthcare workers. Therefore, issues regarding support—and specifically financial support—for the healthcare workers who staff the National Health System are high on the government’s agenda, in a transparent and honest manner toward every employee in the National Health System.».

In response to a question from a KINAL member of parliament regarding the classification of public-sector healthcare workers as engaged in »arduous and unhealthy work,« Mr. Kontozamanis replied that »this is a just demand from workers in hospitals and health centers, and we are examining it seriously and responsibly in cooperation with all relevant ministries.« As he noted, »there is a relevant committee, whose findings we are awaiting, and this does not concern only healthcare workers but all sectors. This committee was established by a decision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs; it is currently working, and we will have its recommendations very soon. We, as the Ministry of Health, have been consulted and have submitted our views.”.