The centers are planned to open early April to coincide with the promised delivery of greater numbers of vaccine doses than hitherto.
The major vaccination centers in the regions are planned for Ventspils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Cēsis, Valmiera, Rēzekne, Jēkabpils and Daugavpils, where 40,500 vaccinations per week are scheduled to be carried out at each center.
Eight additional cities – Kuldīga, Saldus, Tukums, Bauska, Sigulda, Aizkraukle, Madona and Gulbene – will have smaller centers, where 8,000 doses per week are expected to be administered.
Source: Vaccination Project Bureau
Source: Vaccination Project Bureau
Two larger-scale vaccination centers are planned in Rīga: at the Riga National Sports Arena and the Rīga State German Grammar School. It is planned to administer 40,000 vaccinations per week in these centers.
There will be 12 smaller vaccination centers in the capital: 49th High School, Teika Secondary School, VEF Cultural Palace, 19th High School, 89th High School, Puškina Lyceum, 31st High School, 88th High School, Zolitūde Gymnasium, Classical Gymnasium, Iļģuciems High School and 47th High School. These centers are designed to administer 42,000 jabs a week in total combined.
According to Juhņēviča, it is expected to reach the goal of 80,000 vaccinations per week as of April 12. The threshold of 120,000 vaccinations per week is expected as of April 19.
Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) is concerned that the large vaccination centers will not come quickly enough.
“It all looks good. But I think we need to change the necessary accessibility. Even if they [vaccination centers] are empty. But God forbid the vaccines come and we can't give them out. Vaccination is our main exit strategy (…) It must be so that the centers are ready and we are waiting for vaccines, not the other way around,” said Kariņš.
Health Minister Daniels Pavļuts pointed out that there would not be enough vaccines in the first week of April to ensure mass vaccination. He also said it wouldn't be economically beneficial to make centers where people have to be employed, but there are no vaccines yet. According to the Minister, it is possible to balance the operation of vaccination centers with the quantity of vaccines supplied.
