Healthcare Centers Prepare to Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccine

Jerusalem, 7 December, 2020 (TPS) -- Skopje, 7 December 2020 (MIA) – Heads of healthcare centers across the country were presented with key information as to the COVID-19 vaccination process, including storage and distribution of the vaccine, initial rounds and allotted doses, at a meeting with Health Minister Venko Filipche on Sunday.

Participants in the meeting were pointed out that the start of the vaccination program immediate COVID-19 risk reduction, nor immediate ease of the pressure on healthcare centers.

According to the Ministry of Health, the inoculation program will start with those most at risk and most vulnerable, and vaccines will be voluntary and free of charge for all.

Health Minister Venko Filipche said citizens will be able to get the COVID-19 shot at the existing vaccination sites in healthcare centers and hospital facilities across the country, and every health center will be required to submit a report on human resources and technical resources at its disposal, as well as functionality. In addition, he noted, every healthcare center will need to appoint a responsible person to coordinate and organize the COVID-19 vaccination process.

“Healthcare centers will receive a questionnaire to state details on vaccination staff, training, number of vaccination sites, as well as details on shift work and COVID-19 vaccine ‘cold chain’ training,” said professor Aleksandra Grozdanova, who chairs the National Committee on Immunization.

In addition, every healthcare center will be required to prepare a report on vaccine handover and administration, while the vaccination process will be monitored via the scheduling system.

In the meantime, the Health Ministry registered a slight decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases in Sunday’s report for the previous 24 hours.

According to the report, out of 1,715 COVID-19 tests carried out in North Macedonia, 659 new cases were registered, 774 patients recovered and 23 died.

The total number of patients treated at infectious disease departments across the country stands at 1,296, of which 443 in Skopje.

The number of available beds in COVID centers is 150.

Since the onset of the epidemic, North Macedonia has registered 67,968 confirmed coronavirus cases, while 43,646 patients have recovered.

The death toll has reached 1,924.

At the moment, there are 22,398 active cases across the country.

2020-12-07 10:19:38, from Nevenka Nikolikj