The Ministry of Health does not intend to vaccinate the population with a third COVID-19 vaccine dose at the current stage. In the Republic of Moldova, 23% of the population got vaccinated with two doses. If those who were vaccinated in Romania and other states are taken into account, the vaccination rate can be close to 30%, Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco stated in a meeting with representatives of the press, being quoted by IPN.
“The third dose is administered in the countries with a high vaccination rate, with the same goal as the first two doses - to create collective immunity. The vaccine is not administered to ensure particular protection for a person apart. At state level, the policies are organized so as to stop or to minimize the spread of the virus,” said Ala Nemerenco.
Immunologists recommend administering the third dose only when a particular vaccination level is reached in the country. “What we should do is to efficiently use the money, not only to do something so that it is done. In the countries where the third dose is used, the national vaccination rate is at 68-70-80%. We have yet to work here,” said the minister.
According to Ala Nemerenco, the doctors will not be vaccinated with the third dose either. “The policies cover the whole country and are not tailored to the needs of an individual. The state takes decisions that cost hundreds of millions and they apply to the entire population,” stated the minister.
Ala Nemerenco noted that the World Health Organization is not in favor of administering the third dose as many countries do not have access to vaccine and haven’t administered the first two doses yet. This way, the countries that have financial possibilities to administer the third dose exert pressure on the producers so that these supply them with vaccines, the gap between poor and rich countries being further widened.
The question about the third COVID-19 vaccine dose was put to Ala Nemerenco over reports that such states as Israel, the U.S. and Romania started to administer the third dose.
