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According to Simon Krėpšta, senior adviser to the president, three topics were discussed during the meeting. First, the pandemic situation and recent trends are reviewed.
“We see that the numbers show that the acceleration of the pandemic, the acceleration of the recovery, has stopped. We have some stabilization of the situation. However, it was also discussed at the hearing that hard conclusions should not be drawn about the current situation. It is much better now than in December, now we are somewhere at the October level, ”said the president’s adviser.
Although the Department of Statistics announced on Monday that we could speak of a third wave of coronavirus, the presidency qualifies such statements as incorrect.
“The term ‘third wave’ would not be exact and correct to describe the current situation. Yes, we have a constant improvement, <...> But the third wave in society is associated with a very strict quarantine, really high levels of infections, deaths, a bad situation in hospitals. This term is not correct, “said S. Krėpšta.
The second issue is the strengthening of the European Health Union. According to Krėpšta, the EU has many initiatives that would strengthen institutions in managing the pandemic. According to him, the EU wants the Community to better manage not only this pandemic, but also to prepare for other possible pandemics.
One of the priorities is to accelerate the production of vaccines. According to S. Krėpšta, Lithuania has a strong life sciences industry, so our country must seize the opportunity.
“In the future, we must fight for the possibility of producing the most advanced vaccines in Lithuania,” said the adviser to the president.
The third issue is the possibility of immunity passports emerging.
“It really makes sense to discuss an immunity passport like other countries do, <...> it makes a lot of sense to follow the example of other countries, to follow what has worked, what has not worked and actively consider the possibility of introducing such an immunity passport also in Lithuania, ”said S. Krėpšta.
According to the president’s representative, both people infected with the coronavirus and vaccinated are increasing in Lithuania, so that possibility should be discussed.
The government will consider extending the quarantine on Wednesday, but new launches will also be discussed. According to S. Krėpšta, the president has always said that the situation should be closely monitored and, as the number of infections improves, releases can be discussed.
A meeting with experts was held before the European Council on Vaccination and Security and Defense on Thursday and Friday.
The president would also be vaccinated with AstraZeneca
Krėpšta says that the head of the country would also agree to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“The president has mentioned many times that he is ready to be vaccinated, as soon as there is an opportunity to do so. “The president is also ready to be vaccinated with any vaccine that is used in Lithuania, including the AstraZeneca vaccine,” the adviser said.
Questions about the vaccine from the British and Swedish company AstraZeneca arose after the European Medicines Agency approved the vaccine in late January, noting that there were not yet enough studies on whether the vaccine provides effective protection to people over the age of 55. years.
The discussions have also spawned posts about the vaccine’s side effects on social media shared by some vaccinated people.
The Ministry of Health announced last week that AstraZeneca will be available to all adults, regardless of age.
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