site.btaPM Borissov Orders Widespread Vaccination across Bulgaria

Sofia, February 22 (BTA) - Nearly 30,000 vaccines have been
administered in Bulgaria in the three days since Prime Minister
Boyko Borissov ordered that "green lanes" should open for anyone
 willing to be inoculated against the coronavirus.  The
authorities report the public is showing a strong interest in
getting vaccinated. Vaccination rooms are open in all of the
country's 28 regions and general practitioners too are starting
inoculations as of February 22, Health Minister Kostadin Angelov
 reported at Monday's working meeting called by Prime Minister
Boyko Borissov with the national coronavirus and vaccination
task forces and ministers, the government information service
said.

Borissov is quoted as saying that "teams must reach people
willing to get the vaccine even in the most remote and smallest
population centres. No distinction should be made between big,
small and remote places."

Angelov said that arrangements are being made for mobile teams
to reach those willing to receive the vaccine in remote villages
 and places. Work is underway with the Interior Ministry for
logistical support so that vaccines reach remote locations
quickly and easily.

Nikolai Brunzalov, deputy head of the governing board of the
Bulgarian Medical Association, said that GPs are ready to join
the vaccination campaign. "Logistics has been resolved
concerning small population centres where medics may run into
difficulties, so that mass vaccination can start," Brunzalov
said.

The head of the national coronavirus task force, Prof.
Ventsislav Moutafchiiski, who is also head of the Military
Medical Academy, and Asen Baltov, head of the Pirogov Emergency
Hospital in Sofia, provided updates on the vaccine roll-out in
their hospitals. COVID-19 mortality has dropped and while the
number of newly hospitalized patients is rising, it is not
overwhelming hospital capacity, said Moutafchiiski.

Bogdan Kirilov, head of the Bulgarian Drug Agency, said all
available vaccine doses are administered without delay. Since
the start of vaccinations there has been a very low frequency of
 unwanted reactions which, in his words, fully confirms the
safety profile established during the clinical trials.

In the meantime, it emerged that acting on Sofia Mayor Yordanka
Fandakova's order, five municipal diagnostic and advisory
medical centres in the capital are offering coronavirus
vaccinations to those willing as of February 22. NV/ZH