Caretaker health minister urges Bulgarians to get vaccinated against Covid-19

Bulgaria’s caretaker Minister of Health, Dr. Stoycho Katsarov, on May 17 made a special statement calling on Bulgarian citizens to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

"We all want the restrictive measures to be lifted as soon as possible and return to our normal way of life. The reduction in the spread of the virus is due to the weather rather than our actions. The danger has not passed and no one can guarantee us that the virus will not return. Like it or not, the only way, for which so far there is conclusive evidence for reduction of the spread of the virus and mortality is vaccination," Minister Katsarov said.

He added that the country is in the last place in the EU in terms of administered vaccinations, and the percentage of vaccinated among the most vulnerable - the elderly and those with severe chronic diseases, remains quite low.

"I know that many of you have doubts about the safety of the vaccines. I also had my reservations, mostly because of the short duration and scope of clinical trials. However, the fact is that vaccines have been given to hundreds of millions of people around the world and the registered side effects are very few. It is obvious even to non-specialists that the benefits outweigh the risks.

"We have already paid a high enough price - in the past 6 months alone, 26,000 more people have died than the number of people who died in the same period of the year in each of the past 5 years. This is twice as many as the victims Bulgaria experienced during the Second World War," Katsarov said.

80% of those who died from Covid-19 in the country were over the age of 60. That is why the minister ordered that all vaccination centres, from Monday to Thursday, administer vaccines to people over the age of 60 and those with severe chronic diseases. On the other days of the week, the rest will be vaccinated in the order of registration. This order will be valid for the next two months.

The Minister ordered the Regional Health Inspectorates to ensure the delivery of vaccines to GPs, as well as to organise mobile teams for vaccination of seriously ill and those living in remote areas.

"I remind everyone again that vaccination is free-of-charge, no matter whether you have health insurance or not. The measures will last as as long as it takes to reach herd immunity! Vaccination is voluntary. Everyone must decide for themselves and their loved ones. "I can't protect you from the disease if you don't want to protect yourself! We have created the necessary organization! If something is not right, we are ready to correct it immediately. Success or failure will depend on everyone," Katsarov added.

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