Last week's average pace of vaccination against Covid-19 by Saturday was 2,440 residents a day, reaching the highest number of vaccinations on Friday – more than 4,785 residents. Last week, at least 14,640 residents have been vaccinated from Monday to Saturday — seniors over the age of 70, medics and residents and employees of long-term social care centers, including residents with severe medical indications.
Last week more than 10,805 seniors were vaccinated by Saturday, while a total of 34,990 seniors in the priority group over 70 years, 6,107 clients of long-term social care centers and 2,780 employees have received the first vaccine against Covid-19. Vaccination of medical workers is also ongoing. A total of 97,770 vaccines are provided to residents in Latvia.
The Ministry of Health invites every resident of Latvia to apply for a Covid-19 vaccine by phone 8989, on the website of manavakacina.lv or with his or her family doctor.
Meanwhile Health Minister Daniels Pavļuts has announced that the Vaccination Project Bureau itself will undergo changes, being moved from the remit of the Health Ministry directly to the National Health Service, while retaining the same staff.
Formed only in January, the Vaccination Project Bureau had come under heavy criticism as a result of Latvia's slow rate of vaccination.
"The implementation of the Covid-19 comprehensive vaccination project to date has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the current management model. On the one hand, a special project coordination unit is needed, on the other hand, the Vaccination Project Office has been perceived by both the public and the industry as something separate from the industry and the ministry. This must not be the case, vaccination project coordinators must work closely with the industry - closer to GPs and healthcare facilities, closer to logistics providers. It is important to improve communication and cooperation between all parties, allowing vaccination to run more smoothly and faster," said Pavļuts.
