While new deliveries of anti-COVID-19 vaccine continue
to arrive in Romania every month, the vaccination campaign is showing signs of
slowdown, and the targets of central authorities have not been met. Overall,
since the start of the campaign last year, Romania received over 9 million
doses of vaccine produced by Pfizer, adding to which were deliveries of the AstraZeneca,
Moderna and Johnson&Johnson vaccines. The total number of people who have
taken the vaccine has exceeded 4.5 million, below the 5 million target
announced by Prime Minister Florin Cîțu for the start of June. During a visit to a drive-through vaccination center
in Baia-Mare, the Prime Minister said the vaccination campaign must enter a new
phase where the serum should reach everyone, even when access is difficult,
especially in rural areas. In this respect, Florin Cîțu called on the leaders
of small communities to get involved.
I met young people under 18
years of age [who got vaccinated e.n.], which sends out a strong signal, but we
should all understand we accomplished the best we could with the available
resources. To get the vaccination campaign to rural areas we need the support
of local authorities – the president of the county council, the prefect, the
mayor, but also influencers – priests, doctors, local law enforcement. Everyone
must get involved to get the campaign closer to people. I trust they will come
up with innovative solutions to convince people vaccination is the only way we
can all return to our lives before the pandemic.
In turn, Health Minister Ioana Mihăilă promised she would travel every week
across the country to encourage the vaccination process. Will the Government’s
target of 10 million vaccinated people be reached by September? The Health
Minister believes the important thing is to get as many people vaccinated as
possible, so that the incidence rate should be kept in check. According to Ioana
Mihăilă, the campaign is currently focusing on at-risk categories, namely
elderly and people with chronic illnesses. Adding to them are people exposed to
the secondary effects of COVID-19, and children aged 12-15, who transmit the
disease more easily. (VP)