Kaunas residents rushed to get vaccinated: they say the vaccine is better than regular tests

According to the data provided by the Kaunas City Municipality, an increase in the vaccination of Kaunas residents can be seen.

“In the first weeks of July, about 7,000 people were vaccinated at the Ice Palace for 5 working days. Currently, the numbers are increasing: in the last week of July and in the first five working days of August, around 11,000 are vaccinated. people “, 15 minutes informed Živilė Masytė, specialist from the Kaunas City Municipality Public Relations Department.

The increase in vaccination populations is observed between July 26 and August 1, when the government announced a decree that will take effect on July 26 expanding the list of jobs and activities that must be tested for coronavirus prophylactically.

Periodic screening should be performed in people who have not been vaccinated with COVID-19 and who have not been vaccinated against the disease. An employee can be suspended from work if they are not vaccinated, sick or have not been tested. In this case, you will not be paid until the day the employee takes the test.

It is due to these changes that the vaccination activity of people is noticeable at the Kaunas vaccination points.

Between July 13 and 18, 986 people were vaccinated and between July 26 and August 1, 2,491 people were vaccinated.

During the four-day period, August 2-5, 1,543 people were vaccinated.

“The vaccination process of the Kaunas population continues actively. Since the first week of August, the number of “vaccine” forces that travel the city has doubled, visiting not only the busiest areas of the city, different districts, but also companies where all workers who want to obtain immunity are vaccinated . People are also welcome in the Vaccination Center of the Ice Palace ”, assured Ž.Masytė.

Considered to close the largest vaccination center

An employee of a mobile vaccination point stopped at the Akropolis shopping center 15 minutes He stated that there had been a drastic reduction in the number of vaccinated for several weeks. The closure of the Kaunas Ice Palace, which is the largest vaccination center in Lithuania, was even considered.

A medical student working on a vaccine has said that the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are more common for those who want to get vaccinated.

According to her, most of those vaccinated believe that they will have a passport with Janssen the next day, but it will be issued 2 weeks after the only dose of the vaccine.

The popularity of the latter is believed to have been boosted by the fact that a single vaccine is sufficient, resulting in a much shorter passport time than other vaccines.

Do not feel pressure from the employer

15 minutes He was interested in whether Kaunas service sector employees feel pressure from employers to get vaccinated.

“It just came to our attention then. Some employees have already been vaccinated, some are just doing tests,” said an employee of the Kaunas Akropolis store.

Not all service personnel are in favor of vaccination.

The interlocutor was assigned to more employees of the supermarket and restaurants. They said they did not feel any pressure from employers, but received reminders of the need for regular testing. The interviewees also assured that most of their team members had already been fully vaccinated or had received the first dose of the vaccine.

However, not all service workers are in favor of vaccination, and some refuse to be vaccinated and choose to get tested.

“There are colleagues who refuse to be vaccinated, the businessman reacts very calmly, but demands tests every 7 or 10 days. There is no pressure or incentive on supplements, ”said the woman who works in the supermarket.

Some rushed to get vaccinated when preventive tests became mandatory, but some delayed the procedure.

“If I can – no, if I have to, then what are you going to do (…) who to vaccinate unnecessarily,” the young man who worked as a waiter opened, asking if he was going to get vaccinated.

Catering employers are calm

People visiting mobile vaccination points these days mainly mention that they came to get vaccinated for work reasons to avoid constant testing, and the increased initiative of employees to vaccinate pleases employers.

Agnė, the manager of Charlie’s pizzeria located in Laivės Alley, said that employees should not even be encouraged to get vaccinated. People who work in the restaurant are fully vaccinated or already have their first vaccination.

In Kaunas, employers of catering establishments feel strong, as most of the employees are vaccinated and the rest of the minority are tested regularly.

“Most of us in the restaurant (vaccinated – aut. Past), about 20 percent. Not vaccinated, the number was given by the restaurant manager in Laisvės Alley. – (…) Such a thing – aut. past.), as I encourage you, it is not, but I also understand the position of people who are afraid of losing their jobs because they are not going to be vaccinated, I encourage them to take the test. (…) If it is firmly stated that vaccination is required or if you cannot work without vaccination, this will need to be taken into account. ”

They would agree to pay up to 15 euros for the test

15 minutes asked employees of supermarkets and catering establishments operating in Kaunas, what amount would be acceptable if the mandatory tests were maintained, but the workplace of the procedure would not pay.

“It wouldn’t even be 2 euros,” said a guy who worked as a waiter and didn’t want to appear in public.

Other people who work in the service area would agree to pay more.

A supermarket employee opened: € 70 would not be tasted, but € 10-15 would be a bite.

Employers have different views on paid testing. Some would leave the tests paid to the employees themselves, others would try to help with company funds.

Here, the manager of a restaurant located on Laisvės Avenue said he believed it would help employees pay the costs they would incur due to mandatory testing.

However, the opinion of Charlie’s pizza manager, Agnė, is different: “Well, if you don’t want to get vaccinated, you’re here for them (the employees – aut. passed.) responsibility and pay for the test. “

Kaunas indicators are better than average

According to the latest data from the Lithuanian Department of Statistics, a total of 1,463,890 people have been vaccinated in the country. This is 52.4 percent. of the entire population of the country.

164,276 people are currently vaccinated in Kaunas City Municipality. The number of people vaccinated in Kaunas is 3.6 percent. it exceeds the general indicator of the country and represents 56 percent.

15 minutes The news portal recalls that anyone who wants to be vaccinated can do so at the mobile vaccination centers without the need for prior registration. Residents can choose from Vaxzevria, Janssen, and Comirnaty vaccines. It is important to have proof of identity upon arrival.

You can find the updated schedule of vaccination bus stops on the Kaunas City Polyclinic website each week www.kaunopoliklinika.lt.