The Regional Units of Kea – Kythnos, Milos, and Ithaca are very close to immunity from the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Priority has been given by the government to the vaccination of the islands’ inhabitants so that with the opening of tourism, the epidemiological picture of these areas is not dramatically burdened, and the hospitalization of patients with COVID-19 does not increase. In fact, in a recent presentation, the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Akis Skertsos, noted that of the 1.3 million citizens who had been fully vaccinated by that date, only 0.3% had become ill.
According to vaccination data published daily on iMEdD Lab’s specialized application for COVID-19, in the Regional Units of Kea – Kythnos, Milos, and Ithaca, more than half (50%) of the residents of these areas have been vaccinated. Kea – Kythnos has reached the 70% threshold, which according to experts, marks the wall of immunity against the virus. The Northern Region of Athens follows along with the Regional Units of Karpathos, Ikaria, Sporades, and Andros.
Vaccination in each area in Greece
To prioritize vaccination of residents of island regions, the government has implemented Operation Blue Freedom, which provides for universal vaccination of all residents over 18 years of age on 19 islands. Specifically, the following islands are expected to be vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson mono-national vaccine by the end of June: Rhodes, Corfu, Lesvos, Chios, Zakynthos, Salamis, Salamis, Kefalonia, Kos, Samos, Lefkada, Syros, Naxos, Santorini, Lemnos, Kalymnos, Thassos, Mykonos, Mykonos, Paros, and Aegina.
Regarding the impact of vaccination on the country’s epidemiological data on COVID-19, Mr. Skertssos noted that the vast majority of intubations now involve unvaccinated persons. The government’s goal is for the percentage of 60-year-olds who are vaccinated by the end of May to rise from 75% to 80% or even 90%.
At least 300 vaccination centres in private health care facilities will be added to the 1,517 vaccination centers operating within the NHS in the coming days. Within the next ten days, people aged 30 to 44 are expected to get the vaccine of their choice, with next Friday’s opening for people aged 40-44.
In June, the emvolio.gov.gr platform is also expected to open for citizens aged 18-29. Specifically, vaccination for this age group will be carried out in two phases. First, the platform will open for the 25-29 age group and then for the 18-24 age group.
