The first stage of immunization against COVID-19 will last for two months and will include the vaccination of 60,000 persons who work in the health system. Specialists of the National Public Health Agency say the vaccination process among doctors is slow as these work in shifts and the doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine can be opened only when ten persons are ready to be immunized, IPN reports.

The epidemiologists call on the population to trust the Astra Zeneca vaccine that is now the only one present in Moldova. The doctors who had been vaccinated said the possible side effects are typical for immunization.

“All the vaccines showed their 60% to 90% efficiency and this enables us to say that they protect us from infection, but they 100% protect us from the serious forms of the disease, from hospitalization and death. All the side effects are monitored. I had shivers, low grade fever and headaches. These are normal reactions,” epidemiologist Angela Paraschiv stated in the talk show “Moldova Live” on Moldova 1 channel.

Specialists of the National Public Health Agency said the authorities aim to immunize 60,000 persons, employees of the health system, at the first stage. The doctors and medical personnel of intensive care and reanimatology units are vaccinated the first.

“To immunize the health workers, we will need two months to cover about 60,000 persons. These persons work in shifts and this feature should be taken into account. Furthermore, the doses of vaccine are packed by 10 and we must be sure there are 10 health workers ready to be vaccinated before we open up. That’s why we have particular limitations in this process. However, about 1,000 persons are immunized daily and we hope to meet the time limit,” said epidemiologist Alexei Ceban.

According to www.vaccinare.gov.md, 9,341 persons have been vaccinated since March 2, when the immunization campaign was officially kicked off in Moldova. There were reported 303 side effects.