KRG to speed up coronavirus vaccination process as demand increases

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) health ministry decided on Wednesday to open more coronavirus vaccination centers in the Region and increase working hours in order to accelerate the process. This follows a recent surge in cases and increasing public demand for vaccinations. 

The ministry said in a decree, a copy of which was sent to Rudaw English on Thursday, that they will open up more vaccination centers and make health workers at the centers work from 8:30am until 8pm in shifts. It also decided to open the centers during holidays. 

“This follows the arrival of a large number of coronavirus vaccines,” added the ministry. 

Aram Rostam, who supervises the purchase of vaccines for the health ministry, told Rudaw on Saturday that “Nearly 450,000 doses have been administered.” 

Rudaw English contacted Rostam to enquire about updated vaccination data in the Region, but he was not available for comment. 

The ministry’s vaccine rollout program has a registration platform open to the general public, but it prioritizes the elderly, people with chronic diseases, and health workers. They have also dedicated two days for specific sectors: public servants can get vaccinated on Saturdays and teachers on Tuesdays, as the new academic year approaches. 

The surge in infections has contributed to an increased demand for vaccines, especially Pfizer - which was initially only administered in central hospitals but it became available in other hospitals as well. 

According to Ministry of Health statistics, there are at least 135 vaccination centers in the Kurdistan Region. 

The Kurdistan Region recorded 1,926 new cases of the virus, 1,421 recoveries and 16 deaths on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases up to 261,627 and total deaths to 5,000.