Djerlek: Uncertain fall is ahead, Crisis HQ will make final decision about measures on August 1

Photo: Tanjug/Tara Radovanovic

State Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Mirsad Djerlek has warned that a not sufficient number of citizens in Serbia have been vaccinated, which is why an uncertain fall awaits us.

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"Citizens did not use the chance we had to have 50 percent of the population vaccinated by June, in order to continue and accelerate the pace of immunization during the summer and await the fall much more calmly," Djerlek has told TV Pink.

As he added, with less than 50 percent of the population vaccinated, we will certainly have an uncertain fall and face many problems.

"I don't want to create panic, but we must be very serious because the reality is that we are waiting for the Delta strain that caused the problem in Great Britain, where 85 percent received the first dose and 65 percent the second dose, with 50 percent of the population vaccinated. What can we expect? Many planned their summer vacation and did PCR from the first days of summer. It's just an indicator of whether or not you are infected at that moment, and the question is also what you will bring back from abroad," said Djerlek.

Young people aged 18 to 30 are the least vaccinated and we will have to work on that.

"The state will not impose mandatory vaccination, but we want to work on explaining that it is necessary to receive the vaccine because it turns out that only vaccinated people are safe. If only 15-20 percent more people understood how important vaccination is, we would already have collective immunity," said Djerlek.

He stressed that the state will not spare the money to reduce the damage that Covid will cause, and plans new incentives.

"The National Immunization Body should make its proposal regarding the third dose tomorrow, and the Crisis HQ will make the final decision on the measures on August 1. Certainly, they will be aimed at the 18 to 30 age group, where 65 percent still hesitate. The reason is that the Delta strain attacks young people," Djerlek pointed out.

He added that unvaccinated people are factories of new strains of the virus.

"It was they who lifted the bar for acquiring collective immunity, and in that way the pandemic is prolonged. It affects the economy and our standard of living," Djerlek stressed.

(Telegraf.rs)