Health minister, PM talk COVID measures, vaccination with county reps

Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Tuesday that today's video meeting between Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and county representatives discussed COVID-19 measures and vaccination so that counties could prepare for receiving larger vaccine quantities.

"This week a little under 100,000 vaccine doses will arrive and by the end of April about 490,000. Many challenges await us, notably if we take into account what is happening with some manufacturers' vaccines. We must respond to everything that lies ahead in a cautious way," the minister told the press.

Croatian Institute of Public Health director Krunoslav Capak said that up to 50% of the population was expected to be vaccinated by the end of June.

As for vaccine distribution, he said doses would be distributed depending on each county's population, except earthquake-struck Sisak-Moslavina County, where 20% more doses are being sent. He added that more vaccines had been delivered to Dubrovnik-Neretva and Primorje-Gorski Kotar countries due to their bad epidemiological situation.

Speaking of the vaccination of tourism workers and other priority groups, Capak said it would be discussed tomorrow.

Beroš, Capak recommend waiting for EMA's official position on AstraZeneca-thrombosis link

Beroš and Capak said one should wait for the European Medicines Agency's official position on the claim by one of its officials that there was a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and thrombosis in some persons who were given it.

"We are following everything that is going on, but before making any conclusions we have to wait for the official position of EMA and its regulators. We talked about it, all options are on the table. In order to take action, we must get clear and unquestionable information from EMA, said Beroš.

Capak concurred, saying that only those collecting all documents and monitoring side-effects could assess a vaccine.

"It's very unlikely that they will opt for suspension. It's possible that they will change something in the recommendations and instructions on vaccine use. If something like that happens, the recommendation will be not to administer the vaccine to a particular age group," he said.

Text: Hina

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