Romanians rush to vaccination centres
Romanians are less reluctant to Covid-immunization and are expected to participate, in large numbers, in a vaccination marathon held this weekend.
Corina Cristea, 22.10.2021, 13:50
With a large number of Covid infections and related deaths, an overwhelmed medical system, hospitals unable to take in more intensive care patients and ambulances waiting in endless lines in front of emergency rooms, Romania finds itself in a dramatic situation, with no light at the end of the tunnel. Interim Health Minister, Cseke Attila, says that, far from being over, the pandemic has not reached the peak of its fourth wave yet and the number of infections is expected to exceed 20,000 cases a day. Pressure on the healthcare system is huge, and hospitals are being reorganized in an attempt to increase their capacity to take in more Covid patients. Most severe cases are among unvaccinated people. Experts and authorities constantly remind people how important it is to get immunized, in order to recover from this situation and prevent a fifth wave. Something has changed in the last few days, though.
Fear and the understanding of the fact that vaccination is the ultimate solution in the fight against the pandemic has convinced more and more Romanians to get immunized. Thus, the number of people who go to the vaccination centres has constantly increased, and, for the first time since spring, when Romania was among the countries with the highest vaccination rates, around 100 thousand people now get vaccinated per day. Many vaccination centres, that closed during summer for lack of activity, are being reopened.
The capital Bucharest, where most new infections are reported every day, is hosting a vaccination marathon this weekend. All six sectors of the city have immunization centres where the four types of Covid vaccine approved in the EU are available. By staging the vaccination marathon, authorities are trying to support the medical personnel, who are exhausted because of the big number of patients and the endless working hours, but also to get as close as possible to the target of 70% of the population immunized, believed to bring an end to the pandemic in the country. This target will be difficult to reach, given that Romania has only little over 30% of its citizens vaccinated at present, ranking last but one in the EU in this respect.
It is up to us to prevent this fourth wave from turning into a tsunami, doctors, have warned. Observing safety measures and getting immunized are the only solutions. Vaccination can make the difference between life and death, experts say, because the number of vaccinated people with severe forms of the disease is much smaller. Most of these people have mild symptoms, can recover at home and do not need hospital treatment, thus, easing pressure on medical units. (EE)
