Covid-19 vaccination under way across Slovenia
Ljubljana, 27 December - Mass vaccination against Covid-19 got under way among the elderly at care homes at 8:30 a.m. when the first three care home residents were vaccinated, retired Archbishop of Maribor Franc Kramberger, Angelca Butenko and Jože Pelko, the government said on Twitter on Sunday.
Ljubljana
Health Ministry State Secretary Marija Magajne speaking to the press in front of the Fužine care home in Ljubljana.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
Lenart
Retired Archbishop of Maribor Franc Kramberger getting vaccinated at a care home.
Photo: Twitter/government
Ljubljana
Care home resident Angelca Butenko gets vaccinated as one of the first in the country.
Photo: Twitter/government
Ljubljana
Mass vaccination gets under way across Slovenian care homes for the elderly.
Photo: Twitter/government
Ljubljana
Health Ministry State Secretary Marija Magajne speaking to the press in front of the Fužine care home in Ljubljana.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
It's important to single the three out but until 9:30 a.m. many care home residents had already been vaccinated, Health Ministry State Secretary Marija Magajne told the press, speaking in front of the Fužine care home in Ljubljana. "This inspires hope that we are at the start of the end of the epidemic."
Magajne announced that people older than 80 who are at home could be vaccinated towards the end of January.
March or later is the most likely date for the general population to be vaccinated, or sooner if vaccines developed by other producers are approved.
The state secretary said that all care homes received as much vaccine as there was interest among the elderly and a proportionate share for the staff.
Slovenia received the first 9,750 doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech on Saturday.
The vaccine was delivered to UKC Ljubljana hospital and then distributed to community health centres, which are in charge of vaccination at care homes.
Next to be vaccinated after the elderly and staff at care homes will be medical staff at hospitals.
The country expects to receive another 6,825 doses of vaccine next week, and then 16,575 doses weekly next year.