The Ministry of Health has issued FAQs on vaccination against COVID-19 as follows which we have unofficially translated. We will be circulating the official translation once available.
1. Which vaccines are licensed and available for vaccination?
The COVID-19 vaccines licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are: Pfizer / BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
2. How long does it take between the 1st and 2nd dose per vaccine?
- Pfizer / BioNTech: The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is given in two doses 3 weeks apart.
- AstraZeneca: The AstraZeneca vaccine is given in two doses 8 weeks apart.
- Moderna: The Moderna vaccine is given in two doses 28 days apart.
- Johnson & Johnson: The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is given in a single dose and whoever receives it completes their vaccination regimen.
3. How can I confirm my appointment if I have not been sent a text message or the relevant certificate has not been sent to me?
In this case, citizens can contact the call center 1474.
4. How else can I make an appointment other than the procedure done through the Vaccination Portal?
In addition to scheduling an appointment through the Vaccination Portal, citizens can contact their Personal Doctor and, if the doctor has expressed interest in vaccinating beneficiaries aged 30 and over in his or her practice with an AstraZeneca vaccine, to be vaccinated through the Doctor’s Staff at a day and time to be arranged by the doctor.
5. If I am not registered or a beneficiary of GESY, how can I secure an appointment?
Citizens who are not registered in the software of GESY or are not beneficiaries of GESY and wish to be vaccinated under the National Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 should submit to the Ministry of Health the duly completed Citizen Registration Application Form for those not registered in GESY Vaccination Portal for COVID-19. The form must be submitted together with a copy of the Identity Card, the Registration Card of the Alien or other Identification Document and a copy of the Hospital Identity Card, in case he / she holds one. The documents can be sent to the Ministry of Health, electronically to the address: covidvac@moh.gov.cy, by post to the Ministry of Health at the address Prodromou 1 and Heilonos 17, 1449, Nicosia or delivered by hand to the Department of Hospital Identities, Ministry of Health, 1 and Heilonos 17, Nicosia.
6. Should my vaccination be postponed if I have a coronavirus case or close case contact?
Yes, in both cases the vaccination should be postponed.
Citizens who have an arranged appointment and in the meantime have emerged either as a close contact of a case or as a positive case, can request its reschedulling, according to the procedure described in question 5.
7. Do I have to schedule my appointment when the Vaccination Portal opens, even if I have a coronavirus case or close contact?
Yes, the citizen, regardless of whether he / she is positive for the virus or is in close contact, should arrange his / her appointment when the Vaccination Portal is available for his / her age group.
8. Next, how can my appointment be rescheduled in case I am a coronavirus case or close case contact?
Initially, it is clarified that in case of rescheduling, the citizen is given a new appointment at the same Vaccination Center and for the same type of vaccine that concerned his initial appointment, as soon as possible.
In order to reschedule the appointment, it is necessary to inform the Ministry of Health immediately. The citizen can either call the Telecommunication Center 1474, where he will be asked to provide information about the appointment and the reason for requesting cancellation of his appointment, as well as possible rescheduling dates, or send an email to director@mphs.moh .gov.cy stating the following:
- Full name
- No. ID Card
- Date of birth
- Date and time of the appointment
- If the reprogramming concerns the 1st or 2nd dose
- Vaccination Center
- Type of vaccine
- No. Telephone contact
- Reason for requesting an appointment change (eg coronavirus case, close case contact, etc.)
- When reprogramming is desired
After the above information is received from the Ministry of Health and verified, the rescheduling of the appointment will be processed and the citizen will be informed. The citizen does not need to take any further action through the Vaccination Portal.
9. Can a citizen, if he does not want his appointment to be rescheduled, claim a new appointment with another type of vaccine?
Yes, this can be done after first canceling the existing appointment by calling the 1474 hotline and then being able to claim a new appointment through the Vaccination Portal when it is available to the citizen age group.
The Vaccination Portal is available daily for different age groups and citizens interested in vaccination should schedule their appointment as soon as possible so that they can be vaccinated quickly, protecting their health.
10. When is COVID-19 vaccinated after illness?
Vaccination is performed within three (3) months after recovery and after at least 42 days have elapsed after recovery / seronegativity in the diagnostic tests.
11. When is vaccination performed in case contacts?
In cases of contact, vaccination may be carried out after the end of the self-quarantine period. In case the contact develops into a positive case, the vaccination is performed within three (3) months after recovery and after at least 42 days have passed after recovery / seronegative in the diagnostic tests.
12. What is the percentage of protection after each dose per vaccine?
- Pfizer / BioNTech: offers 52% immunity seven days after the first dose, with the rate increasing to 89% after another week. According to the latest data from Pfizer, seven days after the second dose, the effectiveness reaches 91.3% against mild COVID-19 and 95.3% against severe COVID-19.
- AstraZeneca: ensures 70% immunity three weeks after the first dose, while 15 days after the second dose achieves protection against COVID-19 of the order of 76% to 94% and is 100% effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization.
- Moderna: the effectiveness reaches 92% 14 days after the 1st dose, while 14 days after the 2nd dose, the effectiveness reaches 94.1%, while the protection six (6) months after the 2nd dose amounts to 90% against mild COVID-19 disease and 95% for severe COVID-19.
- Johnson & Johnson: protection begins after 14 days, while its effectiveness against the serious effects of COVID-19 disease, after 28 days, reaches 85%. After 49 days, the vaccine has been shown to almost completely prevent hospital admissions and the risk of death.
The original FAQs in Greek can be accessed HERE in GREEK.