All EU citizens will have access to a vaccine for COVID-19 when this is available, EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Monday stressing the need for citizens to abide by the measures recommended by the experts and the competent authorities until a vaccine and appropriate treatment schemes to effectively address the virus are found.
In statements to the media after a meeting she had here with left-wing AKEL party leader, Antros Kyprianou, and asked if the vaccination will be compulsory Kyriakides said that vaccination, in Cyprus as well is not compulsory, and that this is an issue that needs to be addressed by the authorities of each EU member state.
Kyriakides said that she briefed Kyprianou and they had a very constructive exchange of views on issues related to the pandemic.
She noted that she briefed him on the measures taken by the European Commission and the member states to address this unprecedented public health crisis, access to treatment schemes, the issue related to the research for a vaccine and the recommendations to member states for the measures they need to take.
The Commissioner stressed that there must be no complacency and that the sacrifices made by the citizens during the last five months must not be lost.
Asked if all European citizens will have access to a vaccine for COVID-19 the Commissioner replied: “Sure. This is why a month ago we announced a European strategy for vaccines for the European Commission and the member states to be able to negotiate so that when a vaccine is found we will be sure that it will be allocated simultaneously and equitably to all member states.”
Meanwhile, speaking after a meeting she had in Nicosia with the President of Democratic Party Nicolas Papadopoulos, Kyriakides said that some companies have entered the 3rd phase of clinical trials to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, noting that until then we must learn to live in the new reality of the virus and take personal measures.
She also noted that during the meeting she briefed Papadopoulos about the actions of the Commission, the recommendations to the member states in their struggle against the pandemic, the efforts for finding treatments and a vaccine, as well as for the steps taken by the Commission as regards the next months.
She stressed that it is very important for everyone to take individually all necessary measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Invited to comment on the latest measures taken by the Government to limit the spread, Kyriakides said that each state takes the measures it deems necessary and depending on the epidemiological situation in the country.