Cyprus will proceed with vaccinations with the AstraZeneca vaccine once it receives it, Assistant Professor in Pharmacology, at the Medical School of the University of Cyprus, Nikolas Dietis told CNA.

He explained that the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which approves all medicines and vaccines for Europe, approved the use of AstraZeneca for adults of all ages.

But he cautioned against using it for the elderly, saying that because the AstraZeneca vaccine has shown to have a lower efficacy, it is imperative that the Ministry of Health comes up with a plan so that vulnerable groups of the population are vaccinated with vaccines of higher efficacy.

Dietis said that the AstraZeneca vaccine only covers six out of ten people, adding that despite the shortage of doses of the Pfizer vaccine, we should not vaccinate the elderly with the AstraZeneca and thus increase their risk, as they may become infected and seriously ill.

As regards the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which was approved by Hungary, he said that Cyprus, as other EU countries, will follow the guidelines of the European Medicines Agency.

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