ARCHIVED - Vaccination status round-up in the Murcia Region
This week the region has received its largest delivery of vaccines and will start to administer the Janssen vaccine from Thursday
Slowly, slowly, the number of people vaccinated in the Murcia region continues to increase and the latest figures published by the regional health authority on Monday show that last week more than 70,000 doses were administered in the region, the total vaccinated to date now being 290,736 individuals having received at least one dose. This equates to 19.2 per cent of the regional population, which is just under 1.5 million.
Nationally, 22.8 percent of the population have been given at least one dose (10,796,466).
In total, 114,351 (7.5 per cent) of the population of the Murcia region have received two doses of a vaccine and are now considered immunised, slightly below the national figure which is 8.3 per cent (3,947,465).
More than 85 per cent of those aged over 80 have received two doses and nearly 68 per cent of those within the 70 -79 age group have been given their first vaccination; it is hoped that this week all of this age group will be given a first vaccine.
Decision made about the use of the Janssen vaccine
As of today, the regional health authority had not started to administer the Janssen vaccine, but it was reported on Tuesday that the decision has now been made to administer this vaccine to those in the 70-79 year-old bracket who have not yet been immunised or those who are unable to leave their homes to be vaccinated due to physical limitations.
The regional health authority had been reluctant to make a decision about the groups to be vaccinated with the monodose vaccine, due principally to the fact that most of the elderly population who are considered to be at higher risk have already been vaccinated with at least one dose of another vaccine.
The region is the last in the country to begin vaccinating with the Janssen vaccine, but has relatively small quantities of this vaccine to administer; last week 4,650 vials were delivered, which are still in the storage unit and this week a further 4,000 doses are being delivered.
Delivery this week:
This week Murcia has been allocated 43,290 doses of Pfizer 4,800 Moderna and 3,300 AstraZeneca, in addition to the 4,000 Janssen from the allocation of almost two million vaccines delivered to Spain this week.
The Spanish health authority has been promised 1.7 million doses of Pfizer a week during May, but continues to receive less doses of AstraZeneca than had been promised. Given the decision of the European Commission on Monday to initiate court action against the manufacturer for their failure to deliver the promised vaccines, it is widely anticipated that supplies of the vaccine may tail-off, but at the moment the principal conundrum facing the authorities is whether to keep administering a first dose of the vaccine to new individuals or whether to complete the course with a second vaccination for those who have already received a first.
Most of those vaccinated with a first dose of AstraZeneca are below the age of 50 and in essential jobs, the first target group for the vaccine before the blood clot problems were examined.
This week the EMA insisted that it was safe for the authorities to administer a second dose of the vaccine, but the Spanish Government is investigating this possibility and refuses to make a decision at the moment.
Elderly from care homes can enjoy trips out with their families
This week the elderly from care homes who have been fully immunised with two doses are permitted to go out with , or visit, their families.
Vaccinations continue in “protest municipalities”
Last week there was a considerable amount of protest following the decision of the regional health authority to focus the vaccination campaign into eight major vaccination hubs in Murcia capital, Cartagena, Lorca, Yecla, Caravaca, san Javier and Cieza with protests from other mayors that their residents would be forced to drive considerable distances (ie Águilas to the Lorca vaccination point, a return trip of 74 km) or Mazarrón to Cartagena.
The regional health minister denied that vaccinations in other areas would be suspended altogether and this week mass vaccinations are planned for Águilas and Jumilla on Thursday.
Although the regional president maintains that the public can be vaccinated in their local health centre, achieving this is proving somewhat challenging for some residents who failed to go along to the sports pavilion in Mazarrón last week when called for their first vaccine.
Although residents are being urged to call 900 12 12 12 if they either refused their vaccine and have now changed their minds, were unable to go to their appointment, or have not been called when other friends in the same age group were called, there are many reports of having to call several times before the phone is answered and some readers report being told they will have to go to one of the eight mass vaccination centres instead.
There is a great deal of dis-satisfaction about this situation and yesterday residents took to the streets in Molina de Segura in protest about having to drive to Murcia city for their vaccination.
The Mayor of Los Alcázares also added his voice yet again to those complaining, stating that installations could be prepared rapidly in the sports centre of the municipality if the regional health authority would authorise a mass vaccination.