G.Nausėda: in early summer, Lithuania should receive 4 million. COVID-19 vaccines

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, assured that Lithuania will be able to vaccinate at least 70% in the first and second quarters of this year, practically before the beginning of summer. adult population of the country, since the amount of vaccine that was supplied to us in the first and second quarters of this year will be 4 million. dose. This is much more than we are currently vaccinating and than we imagined until recently, “the head of state said at a press conference on Friday.

This is due to the anticipation that vaccines developed by two more companies will soon be approved. According to G. Nausėda, next Friday the European Medicines Agency (EMA) intends to pronounce on the AstraZeneca vaccine and, if the decision is positive, the first doses of it can be received in Lithuania in mid-February.

Another big company in the queue is Johnson & Johnson. A decision on their vaccines is expected in March, and in the event of a positive decision, they could be launched in April in the European Union (EU).

The vaccines of these two companies are not ‘cold’, that is, their storage conditions are much simpler than the current Pfizer / BioNTech, which greatly facilitates the vaccination process. Also, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may only need one dose.

Mass vaccination is not possible without transparency

“In the near future, the most important challenge will no longer be the lack of a vaccine, but the ability to vaccinate our people en masse so that we can make optimal use of time and fully achieve herd immunity, say, until the coronation. from Rey Mindaugas. We can set ourselves that goal, “said G. Nausėda.

Then you will be able to start the booster vaccination, but the biggest logistical challenge will be in the second trimester.

“Therefore, we must do everything possible to be able to face this challenge, both in the setting up of vaccination centers and in their capacity, because the question here is no longer whether someone is ready or something is not ready.

If we don’t, we will have to answer all the very uncomfortable questions for us: why, with enough vaccine, we have not been able to vaccinate the maximum number of people and people continue to get sick. We simply would not have the right to leave room for such questions. “

According to the president, mass vaccination is not possible without a transparent system based on a clear sequence, which is easy to verify and make sure that there are no abuses. To do this, he proposes the use of an electronic system “esveikata”, a mass registration system, control – according to experts, this is an absolute necessity.

During February, according to G. Nausėda, vaccination centers with sufficient capacity should appear in all regions and in the largest cities, several at a time.

“According to our calculations, already in February it is necessary to achieve an average of 10,000 daily vaccinations. people, to increase this number to 34-35 thousand in the second quarter. per day on average. In other words, if the pace slows down during the weekend for one reason or another, we have to make up the other days, ”said the head of state. – Otherwise, the mathematics is merciless: we will not be able to vaccinate such a large number of people and two vaccines each.

Therefore, we must do everything possible to be able to face this challenge, both in the creation of vaccination centers and in their capacity, because the question here is no longer whether someone is ready or something is not ready.

It is, first, mathematics, second, organizational capacity, so that we have enough institutions, enough centers and enough human resources, logistical capacity, to be prepared for this task and carry it out 100%.

Providing vaccines to neighbors is also of vital interest

According to G. Nausėda, other EU countries have similar plans, to vaccinate the majority of the population before the summer, because the vaccines are given according to a certain formula, depending on the population.

He noted that manufacturers “sometimes behave unpredictably, creating an atmosphere of completely unnecessary suspicion where they shouldn’t be, due to reduced vaccine volumes and certain logistical problems.” EU leaders have taken a united position, which must be avoided, because “in April, in May, we will have volumes of vaccines completely different from the current ones, and we will have to put this process in order so that no one has doubts.”

The EVS meeting also discussed coronavirus mutations and fears that the vaccines currently being developed may be less effective. For this reason, the aim is said to be to supply vaccines not only to EU members, but also to the countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans.

This concern is, on the one hand, our solidarity and, on the other, our vital interest. The more insecure we live in an environment where mutations can potentially occur outside our borders, the more health risks we face. We unanimously agree that when the worst opportunities arise, the surplus, when we are already vaccinating the EU population en masse, must look back on our neighbors and help us tackle the problem. This is a great geopolitical, social and health challenge ”.

Commenting on the desire of some employers to vaccinate their employees with their own funds and as soon as possible, G. Nausėda pointed out that the issue of buying “Moderna” vaccines at commercial prices was artificially inflated. Because this vaccine would probably arrive in Lithuania only at the end of the year, when the majority of the population should be vaccinated anyway.

At the end of the mass vaccination, there are several options, as the market will look different. Currently, a certain number of vaccines are distributed to the main countries and regions of the world. “It just came to our attention then. It will probably be possible to do something with the money after the end of the second quarter. So there is no point in considering this issue if the plan we are talking about is implemented,” summarized G. Nausėda.