Vaccination programme
By 27 May 2022, 87.31% of the adult population in Cyprus had received at least one vaccine dose, while 87.06% were fully vaccinated. 64.4% of the adult population have received a third/booster dose. The corresponding percentages for the total population are 69.9%, 69.7% and 51.6% (COVID-19 Spread in Cyprus – University of Cyprus).
The administration of the fourth booster dose in Cyprus started on 30 March 2022 and was voluntary. It was proposed to the following population categories, regardless of age, provided that five months have passed since the administration of the booster/third dose: health professionals, vulnerable patient groups, persons over 60 years of age and persons living or working in retirement homes and closed institutions.
On 8 March 2022, following approval by the ΕΜΑ, the Ministry of Health expanded the vaccination schedule against COVID-19 to include the vaccine Nuvaxovid, the fifth vaccine recommended in the EU for the prevention of COVID-19 (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/08032022_healthappointmentsfornuvaxovid_EN.pdf). The vaccination schedule includes all EU recommended vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer & Johnson) (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/17012022_vaccinationsEN.pdf).
Vaccine coverage and access
In Cyprus, anyone can get vaccinated against COVID-19, including refugees and asylum seekers. GeSY beneficiaries can contact their personal doctor, register for the vaccine online or visit one of the walk-in vaccination centres. Individuals who are not registered with the national health system, GESY, must present their identity document, foreign-national registration card or proof of an appropriate registration application and complete a non-GESY beneficiary registration form on the Cyprus Vaccination Portal COVID-19 (https://help.unhcr.org/cyprus/covid-19-coronavirus/).
As part of the Ministry of Health's efforts to better serve citizens for vaccination against COVID-19, the vaccination schedule has been modified according to the needs of the population. The hours of operation and the number of vaccination centres against the disease COVID-19 were changed according to meet demand (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/18052022--Changes%20to%20the%20operating%20hours%20of%20the%20Vaccination%20Centres%20against%20COVID-19.pdf). Since the beginning of 2022, citizens can get vaccinated with the vaccine of their choice at the walk-in vaccination centres or make an appointment through the electronic vaccination portal (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/17012022_vaccinationsEN.pdf).
Since 17 December 2021, the Ministry of Health has started vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 years at the Ministry of Health's maternity and child welfare centres, which exist in all districts. As part of the Ministry of Health's efforts to strengthen the immunity of populations more susceptible to serious diseases, the Council of Ministers decided on 22 March 2022:
- to administer a booster vaccination (third dose) to persons aged 12 years and older with an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer);
- the administration of a booster vaccination (4th dose) with an mRNA vaccine to persons, regardless of their age, living and working in retirement homes and other closed institutions, health professionals, immunocompromised persons and persons over 70 years of age.
In addition, booster vaccination/fourth dose will be administered to persons over 60 years of age from 26 April 2022 and MRNA vaccine will be administered to vulnerable populations, regardless of age, including persons with diabetes mellitus and severe obesity, from 11 May 2022 (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/10052022--Announcement%20by%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20on%20the%20administration%20of%20a%20booster-4th%20dose%20to%20vulnerable%20groups%20of%20the%20population.pdf).
To increase vaccination rates, the Ministry of Health offered financial and other incentives to encourage people to participate in vaccination (for example, for 16-to-30-year-olds, football tickets and discounts at various companies. It also organised pop-up vaccination events with other stakeholders (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/28122021_emvoliapaidiaEN.pdf) and home vaccinations by community nurses (https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/2112021_administrationvaccinetobedriddenpatients_EN.pdf).
By 21 May 2022, 74.9% of the total population had received their first dose of the vaccine (86% of people over 18), while 73.5% were fully vaccinated.