Gheorghita: Vaccination demand expected to rise in Romania amid fear of Delta strain

The coordinator of the national vaccination campaign, Valeriu Gheorghiță, declared on Tuesday that the activity of 117 fixed vaccination centers has been stopped, but that it is possible for them to return quickly when, according to estimates, the demand for immunization will increase. The doctor pointed out that as Delta variant becomes dominant in the world, the number of infections caused by this strain will increase in Romania as well.

Doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă stated that 117 fixed vaccination centers have temporarily stopped their activity, and in the case of 371 centers the work schedule has been reduced. “During the previous week we re-evaluated the efficiency of fixed vaccination centers. About 80% of fixed vaccination centers vaccinate less than 25% of the vaccination capacity allocated to each stream. We have 371 centers for which the work schedule has been reduced and the number of flows to the remaining vaccination centers has also been reduced. to maintain a correct balance between costs “, said Valeriu Gheorghiță.

He stressed that the cost efficiency is not aimed at staff, who will continue their work in rural centers, but there are costs related to rent, cleaning or disinfection services. Such a measure will speed up the rural vaccination campaign.

On the other hand, he pointed out that the initial number of fixed vaccination centres will be restored when the demand increases.”We anticipate that in the next period we will have an increasing demand regarding the Covid-19 vaccination, as the Delta variant is becoming dominant among the population, globally. Also, according to the estimated and expected data at this point, it is very likely that the number of cases caused by the Delta strain increases, “he said.

28% of kids over 12 vaccinated against COVID-19 in Romania so far

The vaccination coverage rate against COVID-19 at national level, from the eligible population – over 12 years old – is about 28%, also announced Gheorghiță, on Tuesday: “Basically, we are approaching a third of the nationally eligible population,” says the campaign coordinator.

Over 4.7 million Romanians have been vaccinated against Covid-19 so far, of which over 4.53 million with both doses of vaccine.

The most numerous teenagers over 12 have been vaccinated in:

• Bucharest- 45.9% of the eligible population;
•  Cluj – 42.6%
• Sibiu – 36.18%
• Brașov – 33.8%
• Timiș – 33%