On Thursday, the Ministry of Health announced the introduction of the new Covid-19 vaccine from Novavax for people aged 18 and over.
The new vaccine, Nuvaxovid BBB.1.5, is a protein-based vaccine, unlike the mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, and is based on a more traditional approach that is more similar to the hepatitis B vaccine.
According to the journal Scientific American, a study in October of this year found that the Novavax booster was about 55 percent effective in preventing Covid symptoms and 31 percent effective in preventing infection, which is similar to the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines.
The Ministry of Health announced that Nuvaxovid can be administered as a basic immunization or as a booster dose. It is recommended for persons 18 years of age and older who have received a basic course consisting of an mRNA vaccine or an adenovirus vector vaccine, such as AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson.
People who wish to be vaccinated with Nuvaxovid can register at vaccination centers in all counties, but only by making an appointment by telephone.
To make an appointment, you should contact Nicosia in 22575070, Limassol in 25804101, Kyperounda in 25829031, Larnaca in 24818047, Paphos Hospital in 26803370, Polis in 26803246 and Famagusta in 23200063. An ID card is required.
For people who have already been vaccinated, the new vaccination can be administered five months after the last vaccination. A minimum interval of three months is required after a positive Covid test. If you would like to be vaccinated with the Covid vaccine or on the same day as the flu vaccine, you can get it at the vaccination centers.
People who are not entitled to Gesy benefits but belong to risk groups are vaccinated against Covid free of charge. Gesy beneficiaries can receive the flu vaccination from their family doctor.
According to the latest figures from the recently published EU health report, while vaccination coverage in Cyprus was high to begin with, “it has proved more difficult to maintain good vaccination coverage to contain infections”. According to the study, only 27 percent of people aged 60 and over have applied for the third booster vaccination, which was introduced last year.
