The new Kaunas Ice Palace, which has not yet opened its doors, has become the largest vaccination center in the country – up to 10,000 a day. vaccines

A total of 43,865 COVID-19 vaccines have been received in Kaunas since the start of vaccination. 24,569 have already been used.

According to data from the Lithuanian Department of Statistics on February 24, 14,520 Kaunas residents (2,990 men and 11,530 women) were vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine. The second is 10,049 (1,988 men and 8,061 women).

Until now, vaccination has been carried out at the now defunct Central Kaunas Post Office in Laisvės Alley. Accelerating vaccination in the country and preparing for mass vaccination, on February 26 the second vaccination center was inaugurated next to the Girstutis basin, in the new Kaunas Ice Palace (Kovo 11-osios str. 26), which still smells like paint.

The new arena has been chosen as the main vaccination center due to the favorable location of large spaces, which will allow a gentler and safer vaccination of Kaunas residents.

Per day: up to 10 thousand. vaccines

As of February 16, vaccinations for people over 80 years of age began in Kaunas. According to Paulius Kibiša, director of the Kaunas City Polyclinic, which carries out the vaccinations in the temporary capital, it is not yet clear when the vaccinations for this age group will be completed; it all depends on the number of vaccines received.

Teacher vaccination continues. Doctors still come to get vaccinated.

According to Paulius Keras, head of the Kaunas City Municipality Emergency Operations Center, during the presentation of the vaccination center, according to data from February 26, about 4 thousand people were vaccinated in Kaunas. of 5 thousand. educators whose antibody tests were negative. The numbers, he said, are changing because fewer people currently refuse to get vaccinated than initially.

Doctors temporarily housed in the facilities of a modern ice palace have already managed to vaccinate several hundred older people against COVID-19. It is estimated that at full capacity, it will be possible to service up to 10,000. Kaunas, up to several hundred patients at a time.

The team assembled by the Kaunas City Polyclinic will constantly work here. It will be made up of about 70 people: 20 doctors, 40 nurses and at least dozens of other support staff.

“Until now, the Central Post Office has become the vaccination epicenter in Kaunas, but for now we will keep them in reserve. Especially since the quantities of vaccines available are still quite limited. So, starting on March 1, all processes will move to the ice chamber. We will endeavor to make full use of them. “Without making an effort”, here we can vaccinate 4 to 6 thousand people a day. people. Using all resources, both private clinics and the Kaunas Central Post Office, up to 10,000. during the day.

It is also symbolic that Kaunas Ice Palace was established with the goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle, and it is now becoming a place that will help us recover faster and get back to the pre-pandemic rhythm. Vaccination is currently the best preventive measure against COVID-19. We believe that the majority of Kaunas residents will depend on current medical science and thousands of them will visit this vaccination center when it is their turn, “said P. Keras.

70 percent. vaccinated in 85 days

In Germany, Great Britain, the United States and other countries, large sports stadiums have for some time been transformed into vaccination centers. It is the first center of this scale in Lithuania so far.

“Due to the pandemic, the city was unable to invite winter sports enthusiasts to the opening ceremony of the new ice palace, but so we have an ideal place to work. Conditions for vaccination are much better here: more space, better lighting, modern heating and ventilation systems, as well as flow management.

All processes go smoothly: we have vaccinated several hundred elderly people in just a few days and today we have another 645 patients on the list of people to be vaccinated. We are ready to pick up the pace as soon as we receive the addition of vaccines, ”P. Kibiša shared his first impressions.

He welcomed the good news from the European Council on February 25, which announced that the supply of vaccines will grow exponentially. For this reason alone, a larger vaccination center had to be found.

P.Kibiša: “The goal is to vaccinate at least 70%. Kaunas could be reached in 85 days ”.

“Today, 2.5 percent have been vaccinated in Kaunas. Populations. If we want to reach at least 70%, it is necessary to maximize vaccination coverage. This target of 70% can be met in 85 days in these facilities , with the available capacity. So, if we started the processes at full capacity from Monday and we had enough vaccines, 70 percent would be vaccinated on May 25. Kaunas “, assured P. Kibiša.

When asked when the private personal health care institutions would start vaccination, he assured that the municipality had already held talks with the 4 largest private networks in Kaunas.

“It just came to our notice then. Currently, the Kaunas City Polyclinic vaccinates both its own patients and those enrolled elsewhere,” explained P. Kibiša.

Adapted for the elderly and disabled

The Kaunas Ice Palace, located in the Dainava district, in the vicinity of the Girstutis basin, is easily accessible by public transport, and a 100-person parking lot has been prepared for Kaunas residents arriving by car. Temporary vaccination center with easy access for people with disabilities, adapted for elderly people with reduced mobility – The corridors are accessible by elevator.

During the presentation of the second vaccination center in Kaunas, an excursion was initially organized, a visual demonstration of how everything happens when you get vaccinated.

7.5 thousand in a square meter area, population flows are proportionally distributed and do not mix with each other. Kaunas residents will enter the vaccination center through one entrance and return home through another. A group of Red Cross volunteers helps visitors find their way.

At the Ice Palace, patients will immediately be divided into two groups: one will be sent to a separate room to fill out questionnaires and consent forms, and those who organize the documents will immediately travel online to the arena’s squares, where the ice. temporarily replaced by vital medical infrastructure.

One site has a vaccination area and the other can be equipped with a space for rapid serological antibody testing if necessary. Currently, 16 vaccination booths are installed here under a special scheme, but this number could be quickly doubled if necessary. According to P. Kibiša, the same number of cabins will arrive in Kaunas next week: 16.

Immediately after vaccination, residents are directed to a 170-seat observatory, where they must spend at least 15 minutes. Patients sitting at a safe distance are supervised by emergency medical personnel on call after the vaccination procedure so that qualified assistance can be provided as soon as necessary.

After vaccination and quarantine restrictions, Kaunas residents will be able to enjoy two new ice fields (both skating and hockey), which have already been poured and tested.