site.btaHealth Minister Angelov: Vaccination Campaign Progressing at Good Speed

March 7 (BTA) - Nearly 60,000 people
have registered online to get vaccinated against COVID-19,
Health Minister Kostadin Angelov told journalists here on
Sunday. The electronic registration system has been subjected to
 constant hacking attacks, he said and added: "Apparently,
someone really wants us to fail, but that is not going to
happen". The vaccination campaign is progressing at a good speed
 and, if this continues to be the case, the goal of inoculating
70 per cent of the population will be achieved by this summer's
end, Angelov said.
 
He went on to say that despite the increasing number of new
COVID-19 cases, there is no cause for concern. Hospitals will
withstand the pressure, they have everything they need, Angelov
stressed. According to him, there are not critical points in
Bulgaria at present; there are places where all hospital beds
are occupied and transformation are underway to increase the
beds' number. This is the case in Kyustendil, Bourgas, Shoumen,
and several healthcare institutions in Sofia.

There are already talks in Europe about a Bulgarian model for
solving the COVID-19 crisis, Angelov told journalists. He
explained this with Bulgaria's success in achieving the best
results in terms of coronavirus incidence and morbidity rates,
despite the anti-epidemic measures in the country being less
strict. At the start of the vaccination campaign, Bulgaria did
two things which other countries are now beginning to apply:
inoculations with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged
 over 55 and green lanes for the immunization of non-priority
groups of the population, the Minister noted.

Angelov also said that the vaccination of election commission
members at all levels should be finalized by March 10.

Those working in the tourism branch will be a priority in the
process of mass vaccination, he went on to say. Work is actively
 being carried out to ensure a successful summer season, the
idea being to ensure the maximum safety of both foreign and
Bulgarian tourists.

RY/DS

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