Some 18,000 people have already received the full Covid vaccination in Lanzarote, according to the island's Director of Health, Noelia Umpiérrez.
As she explained on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, both those over 80 years of age and those with severe dependencies who are at home are "fully vaccinated." "There may be some cases that were left unvaccinated due to some circumstance, that they were sick or whatever, but we have this group vaccinated,"
In fact, she pointed out that the incidence of infections in people over 80 years of age "is practically nil in recent days."
Now, people aged 70 to 79 are being vaccinated with Pfizer, some of whom have already received the second dose, as well as the group between 60 and 65 years old, who are being given the first dose of AstraZeneca, after the administration with this vaccine was resumed.
"We estimate that throughout next week we will also finish with this group and start with other groups such as risk groups and we will also resume the groups that were pending after the suspension with AstraZeneca," said the director of the Lanzarote Health Area.
Thus, she stated that vaccination of teachers on the island will resume after Easter. "In theory, on Monday we will receive 5,000 doses of AstraZeneca and we will be able to resume those groups that were pending, which were those of Primary and Secondary schools," she specified.
Regarding the vaccination of people between 65 and 70 years old, it will begin when the group of 70 to 79 is finished, since they have to be vaccinated with Pfizer.
The director of the Lanzarote Health Area highlighted the "very good pace" of vaccination on the island. "We have given 30,000 doses, which means that approximately 18,000 people have received the two doses, which means they have completed the vaccine," she indicated.
"About 1,400 doses" are being administered daily
And it is that, approximately "about 1,400 doses" are being administered per day and more could be given if more vaccines arrived, according to her. "I estimate that between 1,500 and 1,800 could be given. We are giving the ones that arrive, but be sure that, if the vaccines arrive, Primary Care will make the effort so that we are vaccinated before summer. They are anxious for them to arrive," said Noelia Umpiérrez.
Likewise, she highlighted "how important" it is for people to get vaccinated. "The only safe measure to get out of this pandemic is vaccination," said Umpiérrez, although she assured that for the moment there are no cases of people refusing to be vaccinated.
"The truth is that in Lanzarote we have been lucky, because we have not had that feeling in the people we call to vaccinate," said the director of the Health Area, who explained that if someone has doubts "they are resolved" or they are referred to the family doctor if it is because "they are taking some medication."
A positive from a cruise passenger and another at the airport
On the other hand, Noelia Umpiérrez revealed that recently a positive case was detected in a cruise passenger who arrived on the island, although he did not need hospital admission. "He had symptoms, the PCR was done with the medical team of the ship and he tested positive and they already have their established protocols," she said.
Likewise, she also confirmed that last week a positive was detected at the airport and that the affected person was transferred "directly" to "a hotel", with which Tourism has an agreement for these cases.
However, among the students who have returned to Lanzarote for Easter, she indicated that for the moment there are "no" "active cases."
Finally, although she is sure that after Easter there will be "a small rebound" of cases in Lanzarote, I hope that it will only be that and that a fourth wave will not reach the island after these days. "I hope not, that we are responsible and respect the rules," concluded the director of the Health Area.
