Dr. Djerlek: I didn't expect such response to vaccination, anti-vaxxers did everything against that

Photo: Tanjug/Nikola Andjic

State Secretary in the Ministry of Health Mirsad Djerlek said today that he had hoped, but did not expect such a good response to vaccination against Covid-19 as has happened in Serbia, considering that, as he said, anti-vaxxers did everything to prevent the response from being like that.

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Djerlek told TV Prva that citizens of Serbia in this way showed great awareness and realized that without the vaccine we don't have the strength to fight against coronavirus.

"So far, 522,000 citizens received the first dose, about 22,000 have been revaccinated, while immunization of another 500,000 people will continue as of Thursday. It's not enough to receive just one dose, protection of up to 95% is achieved seven days after the second dose," said Djerlek.

He announced that even more vaccination spots would be opened and said that the vaccine cannot cause infection, but that receiving the second dose will be delayed if someone becomes ill in the meantime.

"It happens that a patient receives the first dose and after a few days gets the symptoms of Covid 19. This is not from the vaccine, the vaccine cannot cause infection. In that case, the second dose is delayed until they are cured. If they they do not receive the second dose, then the protection is only 50 percent," he said.

According to him, mixing two doses of (different) vaccines is unacceptable, while after a year or later, a different vaccine can be received, but not at this stage.

Djerlek pointed out that if we continue at this pace of vaccination, we can reach 20% of immunized population in a few months.

He also said that it was good that the state has decided to return the Torlak Institute (for vaccine production) to its old glory, because that is what a serious country does, adding that investments in Torlak would continue.

"It's important to have your own national home where the vaccine is produced. Some had wanted to turn Torlak into a plot of city develpment land," said Djerlek, and added that making vaccines is not a simple job.

Speaking about new shippments of vaccines arriving in Serbia, Djerlek said that he expects another 50,000 doses of Sputnik V, 90,000 Pfizer vaccines and significant quantities of the Chinese vaccine in February.

"That is a big deal for Serbia," he concluded.

(Telegraf.rs)