President Maia Sandu will recommend the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection to launch the second stage of the national vaccination process even if the first stage isn’t yet over. She said she is disappointed at the speed of the first stage of the vaccination process and the vaccination of older persons and persons with comorbidies should be initiated as soon as possible so that the process takes place at an accelerated pace, IPN reports.
President Sandu said that to efficiently manage the pandemic, the team of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection should be extended as the institution now has only one secretary of state.
“I asked the acting Prime Minister to strengthen the Ministry of Health’s team. As the Constitutional Court held that secretaries of state can be appointed by an interim Government, I hope this will happen the next few days so that we have a team of professionals,” Maia Sandu stated in the program “Good Evening” on the public TV channel Moldova 1.
Moreover, Maia Sandu expressed her disappointment at the unwillingness of some of the health workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. She noted the second immunization stage should be started even if not all the health workers have been yet vaccinated.
“I’m disappointed at the speed of the first stage of the vaccination process in the health system. If delays are further witnessed, I will recommend, as I cannot order, to begin the next vaccination stage. We should not wait until some of the hospitals delay the process for weeks. There are many persons who are eager to be vaccinated. I will insist on offering more people the possibility of being immunized,” stated Maia Sandu.
She noted that the purchase of lots of Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson vaccines is now being negotiated.
“The Government should buy vaccines from all the companies and offer the people the possibility of choosing. I want to be vaccinated, but I‘m waiting for my turn. There are people who need a vaccine more.”
Under the national immunization plan, the first stage embraces the doctors and employees of the health system, the second - the persons aged 60 and over and those with comorbidies, while the third stage - the general population.
