Date Published: 13/04/2021
ARCHIVED - Murcia vaccination campaign continues with 75-79 and 65-69 age groups
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
The Murcia health service anticipates 60,000 more jabs this week despite AstraZeneca supply problems
Image: Vaccination in Mazarrón on Tuesday
Despite the uncertainties caused by continuing difficulties in the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine, regional health authorities all over Spain are gradually achieving increases in the rate of progress in the coronavirus immunization program, and in the Region of Murcia this week a start will be made on the population group comprising 14,000 people aged over 40 and with especially high risk factors.
These include cancer and AIDS patients and Down Syndrome sufferers, as well as those who have received transplants or are undergoing haemodialysis treatment. Patient lists are being drawn up in preparation and the intention is to initiate the vaccination program either this week or next.
At the same time, the SMS regional health service is now unsure about whether the 4,900 doses of the Janssen vaccine,originally scheduled to arrive in Murcia for use on the 75 to 79 age group will happen or not, following the recommendation of the US's CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) that the vaccine be temporarily withdrawn due to blood clotting issues in a small number of patients. The European roll-out has been temporarily suspended and it is not clear today whether the vaccine will be despatched or not.
However, the plan to begin the vaccination of all 65- to 69-year-olds using the AstraZeneca drug may also be undermined by the latest failure by the company to achieve agreed delivery targets: the expectation was for the imminent arrival of 44,000 doses this week, according to the regional minister for Health, Juan José Pedreño.
The SMS schedule details 31,000 vaccinations this week for people aged 75 to 79 at 17 centres in Águilas, Alcantarilla, Alhama de Murcia, Bullas, Calasparra, Moratalla, Barranda (Caravaca), Blanca, Abarán, Cartagena, Archena, Lorca, Jumilla, Mazarrón, Molina de Segura, Murcia, Santomera and Torre Pacheco. In the city of Murcia, over 2,000 people per day will receive their jabs at the Nueva Condomina while the Palacio de los Deportes is being used for the 65 to 69s, while in smaller localities vaccination is taking place at local medical centres.
To date, 285,613 Covid vaccine doses have been administered in the Region of Murcia, reaching 186,207 people, or 15 per cent of the adult population. The number of people to have received both doses has climbed to 99,406 according to the latest update, equating to 8 per cent of the target population.
In the group of over-80s the Region has been especially successful so far, vaccinating 94.8 per cent of the population with at least one dose and 64.9 per cent with both.