Press Releases

Decisions of the Council of Ministers

Τhe Council of Ministers at today’s meeting has taken decisions as part of the effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. In particular, in his proposal the Minister of Health, Mr Michalis Hadjipantela, stressed the need that all necessary actions continue to be taken, in the coming period, so as to avoid a deterioration of the epidemiological image of the country.

Taking the winter season into account, the expected outbreak of seasonal infections, but also the wider situation across Europe and the reintroduction of strict restrictive measures in some states, the Council of Ministers decided, today, to extend the existing measures until 9 November 2021. The measures will be reviewed in relation with epidemiological data as they will be shaped in the coming days.

In addition, having examined the data of the Ministry of Health, according to which during July-October 8.6 % of the positive cases and 4.2 % of the hospitalized patients who had completed their vaccination scheme, had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Council of Ministers approved the administration of a booster dose of the vaccine to individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson one, provided that they belong to one of the following population groups:

-       Persons aged 60 and over,

-       Persons belonging to vulnerable groups as announced by the Ministry of Health,

-       Health professionals, and

-       Residents and persons working in Senior People’s homes.

It is specified that for vaccination with a booster dose, a period of six (6) months must have elapsed since the initial vaccination. Individuals belonging to the above groups will have the choice to receive a boosting dose of Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Further details on the initiation of the administration of the booster dose procedure will be announced in the following days.

(EK/MPO)