According to the Czech Vaccinological Society, the first 9,750 doses of COVID-19 vaccine could arrive in Czechia on Dec. 28, half in Prague and the other one in Brno. The substance from Pfizer is expected to be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the European Union on Dec. 21.
To receive immunity, each person must receive two doses. Czech Minister of Health Jan Blatný said that the vaccine would be approved no earlier than Dec. 29 and that vaccination in the Czech Republic could begin in six to eight weeks.
Czechia has ordered a vaccine for about two million people thanks to the joint purchase of the European Union. As the substance is already being manufactured, only the final EMA approval is pending and distribution will be possible. The vaccine must be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius and will be imported in larger packages. Therefore, people will be able to get vaccinated in vaccinating centers in larger hospitals.
Several manufacturers will supply the vaccine to the Czech Republic for a total of 6.9 million people. According to the vaccination strategy, the vaccine is expected to be delivered to one million people in the first quarter of 2021, in the second to 2.62 million people, in the third for 2.42 million people, and in the fourth for 382,000 people. Additional doses will be available in 2022. About 40 percent of the population are interested while 20 percent are undecided.
Vaccinations should be voluntary and fully covered by public health insurance. According to the strategy, people over the age of 65 and younger patients with serious diseases will be vaccinated first. According to the latest statistical yearbook, there are over 2.13 million seniors alone, making up one-fifth of the country’s population. Health professionals from selected departments who are more at risk, other health professionals, employees in social services and critical state infrastructure will also receive the vaccine before other applicants from the public.
No vaccine against the new type of coronavirus has yet been approved for use in the European Union. The United Kingdom approved its vaccination program separately.
Title image: A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine that receivedemergency use authorization is seen at George Washington University Hospital, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
