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Ombudsman: Vaccination against COVID-19 is slow and nontransparent


https://www.ipn.md/en/ombudsman-vaccination-against-covid-19-is-slow-and-nontransparent-7967_1080833.html

The ombudswoman for children’s rights Maia Bănărescu reaffirmed her concerns about the shortcomings witnessed in the vaccination process that, in her opinion, is slow and nontransparent. She said the utilization of vaccines should be monitored strictly and immunization contrary to the established order should be excluded, while the signals of sale of COVID-19 certificates, which offer some of the persons the possibility of benefitting from compensations, while others the possibility of travelling abroad, should be probed, IPN reports.

Maia Bănărescu regrets that the authorities didn’t manage to work out and implement a clear vaccination strategy that would offer the citizens pertinent information about the procedure, whether they will be contacted by the family doctor or should register on an online platform, etc.

The epidemiological situation in the country remains rather serious. The decision taken by the Commission for Exceptional Situations on April 1 is not sufficiently clear and some of the limitations imposed for reducing the contamination rate are not sufficiently argued and reasonable.

The Commissions didn’t come up with additional and more determined measures for reducing the danger of infection in public transport and during meetings of a religious character, services or other traditional religious events. But the places of worship are usually crowded and the sanitary norms there are primarily ignored. The curfew could have been avoided if the authorities instituted stricter control over the functioning of restaurants, recreational places, etc.

Maia Bănărescu noted the implementation of the Commission for Exceptional Situations’ decisions and of the sanitary norms should be monitored stricter, with the more active involvement of the police. It is also important to respect the right to defense, the access to justice if penalties are imposed, by setting real time limits for challenging the decisions on contravention.