The Commission for Infectious Diseases will discuss on Monday enforcing measures at the borders to ensure protection against the spread in North Macedonia of the delta coronavirus variant, which has spread across Europe, Health Minister Venko Filipche told a press conference on Friday, adding that no additional restrictions are currently being discussed.
He underlined that the Ministry is currently focused on vaccination, expressing expectations that some 500,000 citizens will be vaccinated by next Friday.
“We’re focused on vaccination, taking place at vaccination centers nationwide. Jabs have been distributed in line with the number of registered citizens. By Tuesday, all citizens who have applied for inoculation should get vaccinated except those in Skopje, Tetovo and Bitola, who will be administered jabs by next Friday, which means that the total number of vaccinated people will stand at 500,000. This is not enough and we call on citizens to apply for vaccination,” Filipche noted, adding that mobile vaccination, which is already underway, should increase the number of immunized nationals.
He stressed that mobile vaccination will intensify next week and ensure the immunization of the chronically ill and bedridden people living in remote areas.
“On Monday, a meeting will be held with the heads of all health homes. Part of the mobile vaccination equipment has been delivered to North Macedonia,” the Minister told reporters.
Regarding vaccination of pregnant women and new mothers, experts have said that they should be inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine.
“No vaccine has shown side effects, but the Pfizer jab is preferred in this case,” Filipche underlined.
The Ministry of Health said in a press release earlier on Friday that a total of 346,836 people across North Macedonia have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 481,809 citizens have registered for vaccination via vakcinacija.mk.
On Thursday, 14,615 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 nationwide. Of them, 12,294 received their first vaccine dose. A total of 572,176 vaccine doses have been administered in North Macedonia so far, while 225,340 citizens have been fully vaccinated.
“The vaccination campaign is under way uninterrupted in all vaccination sites across the country. Interest for vaccination is on the rise,” the press release read.
Latest data show that 52% of people over 70 have received at least one COVID-19 shot, as well as 49% of those over 65, and 43% of people over 60.
“Vaccination is taking place in line with the National Vaccination Plan, prioritizing seniors and frontline workers. In addition to the country’s largest mass vaccination site at the Skopje Boris Trajkovski Sports Arena, vaccination sites are open in Kavadarci, Kumanovo, Tetovo, Shtip, Bitola, Strumica, Ohrid, Veles, and Prilep,” added the press release.
The Ministry of Health urges citizens to apply for their coronavirus shot appointment at vakcinacija.mk.
