The mass inoculation drive against COVID-19 today expanded further to include workers at garments and footwear factories across the country. Around 60,000 employees all over the country will receive the coronovirus shot starting today, according to the criteria based on age and health conditions. Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu, and the Minister of State for Reconstruction, Arben Ahmetaj, visited one of the made-to-order garments factories to monitor the vaccination process.

“The vaccination drive started today based on a list complied and submitted by the association of garments and footwear industry. Around 60,000 workers are slated to receive the jab based on age and health condition criteria. We will begin inoculation at the mass vaccination sites based on the name lists of workers so that work is not suspended in the factories and ensure health protection,” Health Minister said.

More than 380,000 citizens have received the first or the two doses of the coronavirus vaccines countrywide. Vaccinating the garments and footwear industry workers has been demanded by entrepreneurs as a way to ensure continued activity at their factories. The entrepreneur said that the vaccination would offer psychological relief to this important sector and would allow it to focus on developing a closed loop manufacturing cycle in the future.

Reconstruction Minister Ahmetaj focused on the government’s support to help this sector meet its targets.  “Your initiative to announce a sovereign guarantee fund of 50 million euros as a financial tool to help this industry to upgrade its technology as a direct request made by the association of the manufacture, cost subsidies to cover training programmes for designers, a very important component of this industry to finalize a closed loop cycle.”