Fier is the next city where the COVID-19 vaccination drive began with doctors, nurses and older adults receiving the vaccine first. The process started at the polyclinics in the southern city, with 130 doctors and nurses slated to receive the vaccine on the first day alone.
Prime Minister Edi Rama stopped by to see the process up close at the vaccination site, which adds to the sites already set up in Tirana, Shkoder, and Vlora. “We launch the COVID-19 immunisation at the polyclinics in Fier, where the vaccination site has been set up for the health emergency and intensive care, and the surgery personnel. More than 1000 doses will be administered today only, 500 vaccines in Tirana, around 200 in Shkodra, 200 in Vlora respectively and the 130 initial doses due to be administered to the doctors and nurses here in Fier. The process is also underway at the elderly nursing home here in Fier,” Health Minister Manastirliu said.
Prime Minister Edi Rama noted that seniors over 80 years old and over will start receiving the coronovirus jabs on Sunday according to the previously announced vaccination strategy.
“As soon as vaccination for the health personnel and the elderly at the care homes, we will start vaccination for the seniors over 80. Some seem dismayed and are seeking to raise an uproar, claiming that we are seeking to exclude other people when we talked about vaccinating leading personalities, but indeed we are clearly implementing the vaccination plan and we are talking about personalities falling into the category of seniors over 80 years old and over, who are part of the group of old people who will start getting jabs,” the government head clarified.
More than 3000 doctors, nurses and older adults have received the vaccine country-wide to date, while the goal is for this number to increase constantly as more secured vaccine shipments arrive in the country. “Of course, securing more doses so that vaccination keeps growing progressively remains a challenge. You have already seen it is not easy at all, yet we have been assured that 40.000 more vaccine doses will arrive within March under the contract we have reached with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, but in the meantime we are looking forward to securing more vaccine deliveries within a short time span on which we are working around the clock, as we aim to complete the vaccination process in 14 months,” the Premier said.
The Premier also visited the residential care home for the elderly in Fier to attend the vaccination process there and he commended the care home staffs for caring for these old people. “All staff members in the nursing homes have made an incredible sacrifice, saving the lives of the old people living in these centres. No fatalities have been recorded in these centres, as the staff members decided to live with the old people here. Deep gratitude and respect for you all.”
