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“Looking ahead to the fourth wave, which will inevitably arrive in the fall, we should probably say very clearly that it would not be justified if we arrived at it in the same way as the third, second or first wave, because the situation is completely different,”
The mayor recalled that the first wave hit unexpectedly.
“We had nothing, respirators, masks or personal protective equipment. It was a great challenge. In the case of the second and first waves, there was talk that tests were needed to control and contract the virus from the beginning. In the case of the second and third waves, the tests were very relevant. In the case of the third wave, vaccines already appeared, but they were only (some said they were privileged) for those who, on the front lines: doctors, nurses, a limited number of people, ”said R. Šimašius.
The mayor stressed that today the situation is completely different.
“It just came to our knowledge then. The tests are relevant, but only in marginal cases. (…) Facing the fourth wave, we have a situation in which we have already exhausted the circle of vaccinations at will and we want to vaccinate,” he said. R. Šimašius.
According to the mayor, Vilnius is among the leaders in vaccination, more than 50 percent have been vaccinated. population.
“But the problem is really big, because if we vaccinate ten thousand and more people a day in May, today it is a maximum of 2.5 thousand, of which 60 percent. It is for the booster vaccination. Very few people come to receive the first vaccine, “said R. Šimašius.
The mayor said he is preparing to live in combat conditions in the fall.
“Obviously, both the learning process and everything else should be,” said R. Šimašius.
The Litexpo vaccination center will close
The mayor mentioned that the change in the vaccination rate will close the Litexpo center from the beginning of August.
The mayor said that a vaccination center will remain in the city center, as well as a bus and minibuses, and trips to supermarkets, jobs. This is expected to reach the undecided population.
“There will be other facilities for pharmacies, outpatient clinics, buses and everything else. This is where we once started, back and forth. Because the massive wave of vaccination will obviously be over, ”said R. Šimašius.
Ask for the cancellation of free trials for those who do not vaccinate
The mayor listed what he would like from the state. One of the critical points identified by him is the decision to allow those who want to travel but have not been vaccinated to be tested with public funds.
“First, it is to stop subsidizing irresponsibility. I can give an example of how it was decided a couple of weeks ago, even for those who want to travel abroad, to give the green light not only to those who have been vaccinated, but also to those who have started. And it was decided that even in that case, the test is free, which would otherwise cost (and cost taxpayers) 70 euros. In other words, we immediately received an increase in the number of people doing tests from one hundred to eight hundred a day, ”said R. Šimašius.
The mayor assumes that some five hundred more people would have been vaccinated if there had not been irresponsibility of such financing.
“I invite you to cancel it,” said R. Šimašius.
The mayor welcomed the expansion of the list of professions for which testing is mandatory.
“But here a couple of things are needed: First of all, it is completely clear what it will be like in the fall, when the situation will seem most threatening. So the question is whether we are inclined to have our children go to kindergartens and schools where the staff is not necessarily vaccinated. (…) Obviously, we want children to be taught safely, to be provided services. They have to be provided or vaccinated, or they have to be screened, but it is definitely not for the money of the taxpayers, ”said R. Šimašius.
According to the mayor, it costs taxpayers nearly ten times as much, and the measure is far less effective in fighting a pandemic.
“We would like to hope to face the fourth wave with other means and a different quarantine, if there is one. That it will not be what we sometimes hear, that if we do not get involved, there will be quarantine again. There can be no quarantine when some people try and they act responsibly, and someone else walks, and the consequences are felt by those responsible who vaccinate and follow the rules, ”said R. Šimašius.
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