"We've focused our efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to all Poles who will want to get inoculated" - said the head of Poland's Chief Sanitary Inspectorate Jarosław Pinkas. He added that most likely the vaccine would be available to buy already this year.
The head of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate said a press conference on Tuesday that 2020 was a year of the coronavirus pandemic, in which we've been exposed to pathogens. "We're hoping that the dangers won't cumulate, that flu virus won't mix with SARS-CoV-2, which would only cause diagnostic problems" - Jarosław Pinkas said.
He also stressed we should take care not only of ourselves, but mostly of those in need. He mentioned the elderly, and people suffering from chronic or multiple diseases.
"They are our relatives, our grandparents, our parents. Let's take care of of them. Let's be especially responsible this year," he called.
Crucial flu shot this year
Pinkas stressed that this year we should especially make sure to get a flu shot.
"This is a special year, in which we should remember to get a vaccine against influenza, and possibly also against COVID-19 in the future, once the vaccine has been made available - and it looks that it most likely will be available to buy this year. Together with the Health Ministry, we've focused our efforts to make the vaccine available to all Poles who will want to get inoculated," the chief sanitary inspector reassured.
He added that the vaccine would be available "to those most thoughtful, the most responsible, those who aren't egoistic, as we get vaccinated not only for ourselves, but mainly for others".
Pinkas in July: vaccine later than all expect
On July 30, Jarosław Pinkas told TVN24 that the COVID-19 vaccine would be ready, "but later than everyone expects". "I think next year, halfway through" - Pinkas said.
Reuters reported in early September a COVID-19 vaccine developed by a European company AstraZeneca could be already available by the end of 2020.
The European Commission said in late August that it had signed a deal with British company AstraZeneca for purchase of 300 million doses of potential COVID-19 vaccine, with possible future purchase of additional 100 million doses. The distribution of the vaccine between EU members would be based primarily on population of each state.
French firm Sanofi, together with British GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), are also working on developing a vaccine for protection against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The substance is currently being tested on 440 volunteers. The final results are expected by the end of 2020.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, Reuters