Caretaker Health Minister: Bulgaria approved the use of COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11

caretaker health minister bulgaria approved use covid vaccine children aged

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от БНТ

17:53, 26.11.2021

There is a downward trend of newly infected, of hospitalisations and mortality, the Minister of Health added.

From December 1, we are entering a new cycle of epidemic situation for 4 months, which requires the issuance of several new orders, he added.

Given that the European Union drug regulator, EMA, approved the use of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11, Bulgaria also approves the use of the vaccine for the children in that age group.

The number of people in hospital is decreasing. The peak has already passed, it is gradually waning, explained Prof. Mira Kozhuharova. According to her, the hospitals have not experienced the heavy load from the previous waves now.

The number of deaths is also declining, although it remains high. According to Prof. Kozhuharova, this is primarily due to the refusal of vaccinations. Maybe now, as the wave passes, more people will be vaccinated, she said.

Just over 1.7 million people in Bulgaria have had a full course of the vaccination cycle with 2 shots.

All data are transparent, open, everyone can see them and get acquainted with them on the National Information Portal, added Prof. Kozhuharova.

We managed to break this wave. Our compatriots accepted the idea of the green certificate. I appreciate the work of the medical professionals in the hospitals, who helped those in need, explained Dr. Stoycho Katsarov.

It is today that we can say that we have broken the epidemic wave. It was not easy at all. The political situation was for everyone to attack us to reap dividends. They did it, added the Minister of Health.

The person who had the largest contribution to prevent lockdown is Prof. Mira Kozhuharova, stressed the Minister of Health. As a sign of gratitude, by the Ministry of Health, Prof. Kozhuharova will be awarded a gold medal, which Dr. Katsarov presented to her during the briefing.

I played the role of the grumbling person - sometimes they listened to me, sometimes not, said Prof. Kozhuharova.

The current state of the epidemic situation allows us to include in our order points for a more complete learning process among students, explained the Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Alexander Zlatanov.

Opportunities for extracurricular, dual education are changing, added Minister Katsarov. According to the order, so far it was possible only in a school environment, now it has been corrected - extracurricular activities, individual training, exams, consultations with teachers can be carried out, he explained.

The requirement for a certificate and a safe environment does not change. Children who are tested in the morning do not have to do it in the afternoon. This applies to everyone, the Minister of Health said in response to a question from BNT.

We have provided the Ministry of Education with more than 1 million non-intrusive child frriendly tests, today they will be provided with another million, the deliveries are arriving. We have a public procurement for further 2.5 million tests. In our opinion, this is enough until the end of the school year.

Regarding border health control - people with a green certificate will be able to enter the country. We intend to go in the direction of minimum restrictions, but with the maximum anti-epidemic conditions, said the Deputy Minister of Health.

From December 1, the term in which a person can be released from the quarantine after entering the territory of the country without a green certificate is extended. From 24 hours, it becomes 72 hours, explained Stoycho Katsarov.

Half of the European countries are currently in the red zone, and this is an additional measure to limit the spread of the virus, he stressed.

Regarding the new Covid-19 variant from South Africa, Katsarov said that for citizens entering from there in our country, the condition that on the third day they can be released from quarantine will not apply.

As for vaccinations, they are still not so many. Rather, the issue is that we have more severe cases and that is because we have not been vaccinated, Dr. Kozhuharova explained. We have reason to be pleased that the Covvid-19 wave is waning, but we should not think that the dangerous time is over. The new wave will come, but it is good not to be afraid of it, said Prof. Kozhuharova.