The vaccination against COVID-19 of teachers and the education staff kicked off in Fier today, the last city as part of the immunisation drive launched throughout the country to ensure the vaccination of teachers after the medical personnel. Around 7.25% of the teachers and the academic staff throughout the country have received the coronavirus vaccine in the first four days of the process, Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu said as she accompanied Prime Minister Edi Rama during a visit to one of the four schools in Fier where the inoculation of teachers has begun. Health Minister also noted that the immunisation programme is progressing as planned all over the country.

“A total of 2664 teachers or 7.25 of the total number of teachers throughout the country have received the COVID-19 vaccines in the first four days. The process is progressing very well. Schools and health structures have been made fully available to the process so that the immunisation process completes as soon as possible. Fier is the last city where vaccination of teachers began and we consider the process complete, because the immunisation is in full swing. More than 600 teachers have received the vaccine in Tirana to date. The process will go on,” Manastirliu said.

Health Minister noted that utmost care is placed to process monitoring in addition to the vaccine administering. “The Immunisation Committee gave the green light to AstraZeneca vaccine use. Of course, we will wait for a final decision by the European Medicine Agency and the World Health Organization, but it is obvious that the two organizations will allow for the population’s mass vaccination. Practically, we are not suspending the vaccination, but we are carefully and closely monitoring the entire process,” Manastirliu noted.

While talking with a group of teachers waiting for the vaccine, the Premier appealed for maximum care after receiving the first dose. “You should show utmost care during this period until antibodies are fully created. The vaccine protection doesn’t kick in starting on first day and therefore everyone should be careful as one can still contract coronavirus if people fail to pay attention and carelessly ignore the restrictive measures.”

The government head noted that breaking the infection chain through vaccination is a top priority.

“What everyone should be told is that this is a process that should run in tandem with the care and protection and it is really regrettable that for merely political reasons and party interests some set the worst and most wrongful example by bringing together many people and sticking up first two fingers while jumping on cars hood. On the other hand, it is vitally important that people realize this is a fight for life, actually a fight for life and death for many people, who are highly exposed and weakest ones in terms of their physical conditions. Therefore, everyone should show utmost care, distance themselves from absurd situations that indicate ignorance and irresponsibility on the part of those who trigger such situations. Breaking the infection chain as much as possible along many of its links through vaccination is a top priority. The campaign, election, parliament seats and government posts are worthless amid this challenge and this objective. We will go on with intense vaccination process and show utmost care and keep calling for care.”