“We definitely have a delay, but we will catch up in a short time of two to three months. Vaccination was to be started in the summer, “Blahuta told Czech Television. The first doses of the vaccine for 5,000 people from Pfizer will arrive in the Czech Republic at the end of December, roughly the same amount should come in January.
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“The delivery will be postponed to the next months of the first quarter, not through our fault. We were supposed to receive 270,000 doses in January, and today we know that we will be happy to receive this amount in February and March. It is due to the capacity of the manufacturer, “said Blahuta.
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Each vaccinee needs two doses of vaccine. The Czech Republic has also contracted substances from other companies. According to the survey, 40 percent of people are interested.
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“We are able to vaccinate seven million insured persons by the summer, the second thing is to fulfill supplies. The last deliveries are scheduled for February 2022, but we would like to have the inoculated population in the autumn of next year, “said Blahuta. “70 percent of the adult population would need to be vaccinated to achieve collective immunity. In my opinion, five million vaccinated should be enough for basal collective immunity, “he added.
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Start in large hospitals
When the first dose of the vaccine arrives, it could be vaccinated immediately, in larger hospitals. “Due to the nature of this medicinal product (storage conditions, group packaging), the vaccine can first be delivered to hospitals directly managed by the ministry,” Barbora Peterová, a spokeswoman for the ministry, told Práva. The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at minus 70 degrees, so it will not be possible for practitioners to use it.
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In the preferred group are seniors over 65 years of age, chronically ill, with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. But initially we will have to select in this group as well
vaccination coordinator Zdeněk Blahuta
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“In the first part, we will administer the vaccine in larger hospitals, workplaces of the State Health Institute and also in some regional hospitals,” confirmed Blahuta. “In the preferred group are seniors over 65 years of age, chronically ill, with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Initially, we will have to select in this group as well, “he added.
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Prime Minister Andrej Babiš wants to establish the post of government commissioner for vaccination, according to media information, this position could be held by former health minister Roman Prymula. “I do not have a problem with it. He is a competent professional, and if the Prime Minister has chosen him, I will respect it, “said Blahuta.
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Regional hospitals are not ready yet. “We do not know under what conditions the vaccination will take place. We should set up three vaccination units, which should be separate from the test site. If they have to be in structurally separate spaces, it will be very difficult for us, because we do not have free spaces, “said Vladislav Podracký, a spokesman for the Karlovy Vary Hospital, on Czech Television.
The hospitals will also have to solve the issue of waiting room capacity. People have to wait in the hospital for about thirty minutes after being vaccinated if there are no side effects.
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The opposition criticizes
According to the opposition, the government does not have a clear vaccination plan. “The best solution is registration through general practitioners and nursing homes,” said doctor and TOP 09 MP Vlastimil Válek. “At the same time, there must be enough mobile teams, so that in the first phase it is possible to provide vaccinations, for example in homes for the elderly,” added Válek.
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People’s Deputy Marek Výborný does not believe that only hospitals can handle vaccinations. “We should go the way of Germany, where the strategy of vaccination centers is being prepared, without which it will certainly not be possible to manage it,” he said. According to the head of STAN Vít Rakušan, an information campaign is also missing. The company that should provide such a campaign for the government is still competing.
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The government could also ask the army for help, which was confirmed to Práva by the Minister of Defense Lubomír Metnar (for YES). “The basic parameters must be determined by the Ministry of Health. They have to say how they want to do it and whether and how they want to use the soldiers. If help is needed, we will definitely make an appointment, “said Metnar.
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From Wednesday, people can undergo voluntary and comprehensive covid testing with antigenic tests covered by health insurance. According to Minister Jan Blatný, the capacity will be up to 60,000 tests per day. It tests about 170 sampling points and voluntarily several hundred doctors in surgeries. The test result is known in 20 minutes. It is possible to repeat the test once every five days until 15 January. He is interested in
according to the survey, about 40 percent of the population.
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