Where in Lviv to get a booster dose and how to vaccinate children

Booster doses, vaccination of children and a predicted new wave of infections – the coronavirus pandemic does not seem to be going away. We are talking today with the head of the health department of the Lviv City Council Lesya Kobetska . Congratulations.

Good afternoon.

By the way, which strain of coronavirus is currently dominant in Lviv – Omicron? Are there any such statistics at all?

We now have a decrease in the incidence – and of course it was now a strain of “Delta ». But we see what is happening in Europe and the world, that there is now a new strain – Omicron, which, according to experts and clinicians who already treat such patients, is much easier, but it is much more contagious, ie there is more contagious : the incubation period is shorter, one or two days – and, accordingly, a large number of people are infected.

But it is known that there is at least one case in Lviv – it was known, it was the deputy of the City Council who arrived from Italy, found out at it. Did Omicron go further?

We are not seeing such an outbreak yet, but of course…

I mean, when you find patients, you somehow separate them, that it’s Delta, it’s Omicron, and it’s – maybe some new strain…

We are currently determining by the method of rapid testing for antigen or PCR test. But to specifically identify the strain – it should be sent to a special laboratory in Kiev, where specific studies are being conducted, recognizing the specific strain.

But in general, similar symptoms of coronavirus disease – of course, that if we take the Delta strain, it was more manifested by three main symptoms, such as fever, cough and loss of smell. And “Omicron”, according to clinicians, is more sore throat, dry cough, severe headache due to intoxication syndrome and muscle pain. Although if you take the previous strains, such symptoms were also observed.

(Of course). Now they have finally allowed the third, booster dose for everyone . Is it already working in Lviv?

Yes, as of today we already have revaccinated people – that is, a booster dose of 840 people.

A little.

A little, but literally a week ago we had 169. That is, people heard that it was allowed, and they actively went to be vaccinated. As we know that the vaccination itself started last year (this is in February), and a booster dose is allowed, the optimal time is from six months to nine months.

After the second dose?

After complete vaccination, ie the second dose.

And knowing that we are waiting for the wave , the next wave is all -yes, and in order to protect themselves. And even if a vaccinated person gets sick, she will, of course, carry the disease much easier. Because, according to our doctors, the last wave was very severe, and of the majority of hospitalized patients admitted to our hospitals, 10% were only vaccinated, all others were unvaccinated. And, unfortunately, those unvaccinated, especially with concomitant diseases, died from the fact that severe complications, concomitant diseases were added.

A How many vaccinated Lviv residents are there now, as a percentage?

We now have more than 60% of vaccinated people on the territory of Lviv MTG (for comparison: in general in Ukraine about 35%) – ed.)

More than 60%?

Yes, more than 60% of those vaccinated

Adult population?

This is the total adult and child population. We vaccinate children from the age of 12, according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, with the Pfizer vaccine.

And how many children? This was recently allowed from the age of 12.

We currently have about three thousand children vaccinated, this a good figure. And, accordingly, there are already recommendations to vaccinate children from five years , according to recent studies.

Not yet made a decision, promise from April.

But we don’t do that, yes.

But Lviv is ready for the fact that when there are still children, small children, the third booster dose, plus there is still 40% of the unvaccinated population, to increase the rate vaccination?

We had a very high increase in vaccination – this is October-November last year.

The situation was critical.

Yes , when we carried out such restrictive measures – that is, when people applied to some institutions, they had to present a certificate.

Well, it’s true now.

And now, of course. But due to the fact that we had holidays, the incidence rate is low – that is, we now have a warm, normal situation in terms of morbidity. Because at the moment we have 170 hospitalized in our hospitals – this is a rather small number, because we had more than one and a half thousand such patients . And our income is not so significant. And, accordingly, the holidays – maybe people are resting to some extent, relaxed. But we still need to remember that only vaccination will get us out of this pandemic.

And what is it about? Because last year was the same, and we do not have the holidays and the flu, and now there is no coronavirus… What is it about? Maybe people just do not turn to doctors, but somehow get sick at home and die?

Because people are busy with holidays and they are more relaxed, relaxed because the incidence has decreased. But still, on average, 2,000 to 3,000 people are vaccinated every day. This is not bad, because in October-November we had as many as 9,000 vaccinations a day.

Plus, now people consciously understand that they need a booster dose, as the effectiveness of the previous vaccination still decreases, the antibodies are reduced in the body, and therefore the person must make this dose in order to protect against the next wave.

Please explain how to make this booster dose? Is it on general grounds to go to the supermarket where they spend – and all in the general queue to get it? Is it somehow separate?

A person can apply to any medical institution. That is, if you take the city of Lviv – on the territory of Lviv MTG we have currently deployed nine centers of mass vaccination. It is constantly open Forum Lviv, Dovzhenko Center, two “Epicenters”…

Cinemas, supermarkets…

All information is posted on the website of the Lviv City Council, according to the schedule. In addition, we have deployed inpatient facilities at every medical institution, including hospitals. And we simplified the holidays a bit, reduced the work schedule. Because before that we had those points from 8 am to 8 pm – you could come to any center or any clinic and get vaccinated.

And just now people, our patients, have the opportunity to apply, if they have already passed the second dose of six months – they have the right to apply and get vaccinated, make yourself this third dose.

The recommended third vaccination of two types is Pfizer and Moderna. And both of these drugs are in Lviv?

Just like Moderna, it arrived in the Lviv region in the amount of 5,000 yesterday, and we are waiting for the next batch. We have enough – more than 100,000 – Pfizer. That is, these two vaccines are available, and their immunization experts actually recommend them for booster vaccination. We have a lot of patients who have been vaccinated with CoronaVac, but experts recommend taking a booster dose of Pfizer.

And why not the same CoronaVac third times?

This is according to their research – they gave such recommendations.

Of course. Do I need to see a family doctor to get this third dose? And who records it in general?

No, you do not need to see a family doctor – we have formed vaccination teams as part of doctor, nurse and registrar.

And they also enter in your medical card?

Of course, they contribute to the electronic medical system – and, accordingly, immediately vaccinate.

However, if we return to this vaccination of children from 5 years old (the chief sanitary doctor promised that, perhaps, from April) – it will happen the same as with adults, whether there will be other children’s points in children’s hospitals, clinics? How will it be?

No, earlier these were the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. Since we were just starting out, it was recommended that parents with children go to their family doctor, who still examined the child and referred him to an inpatient unit at the clinic. That is, the child and parents live near this clinic – it is convenient for them to contact nearby and, in addition, also consult a family doctor.

But also vaccination could be carried out and in mass vaccination centers – that is, children also applied and were vaccinated there. And in this case also without problems, because in this vaccination team there is a doctor who also examines before vaccination.

That is, they understand , what are the lower doses for children?

Yes.

I wanted to ask for forgery of certificates. At the end of November, a scheme of forgery of certificates was exposed in Lviv – it was about four city hospitals , an investigation was launched… Tell us what the results are.

Yes, unfortunately, this is the situation. But at the moment investigations are underway, an investigation is underway and I can’t say anything definitive. But we received information from the Ministry of Health to conduct a thorough investigation. In fact, the heads of health care facilities checked this information – and there were many that the seals were forged and did not match the originals, both the seals of the health facilities themselves and the seals of doctors.

Do you mean that these are third-party fraudsters, that doctors were not involved here?

Yes, third-party fraudsters – we think so. Because there were seals, for example, of one medical institution, there were seals of doctors who are not employed there at all – that is, there are no such doctors.

Are there any such doctors or are they just invented?

I can’t say, because we have a lot of doctors across Ukraine. Because they were exposed by those forged certificates more when people crossed the border. And there were appeals from other regions – for example, from the Transcarpathian region, where they found fake certificates, and from other regions as well – that for some reason it turned out to be our institutions.

But in fact, according to the results of the inspection, we did not find any such seals, signatures or the same doctors who would do it. But all the same it is work of law enforcement agencies, and already by results of investigation we will know something definitively.

(And here) recently, literally yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported that after January 31, all unvaccinated doctors, in general staff hospitals, as well as local government officials, public utilities should be fired. What is the current situation with vaccination among doctors or medical staff?

I understand that a health worker should be an example for to get vaccinated and recommend to their patients. And we currently have about 90% of vaccinated health workers, which is a good figure, including more than 90% of family doctors. But there are those who are not vaccinated, of course.

This is a good figure, if you look at it in general – 90%. But if we look at it from the other side, we can lose 10% of the medical staff if we have to remove them.

Yes, of course . In fact, the order of the Ministry of Health states that a person working in a medical institution will be suspended , plus she will not be paid a salary. And that’s why the medical worker himself will think: should he lose his job or should he lose his salary. Maybe in some way it will encourage him to go and get vaccinated.

(But) Doctors are informed that they will remove?

Yes, of course, informed. And we have been obliging leaders for a long time. We worked all last year…

Well, you just persuaded them then.

Well, yes

They were not threatened.

Of course, because vaccination was recommended. It was later that Health Minister Viktor Lyashko took a tougher line on this. And, accordingly, first there was an order on educators – if we remember, they were also removed, and then we actively organized additional vaccination points for them, came to schools, we actively vaccinated them. As for the doctors, of course, we warned them that all doctors who will not be vaccinated will be suspended from January 31.

How will you check whether doctors are vaccinated according to certificates?

According to the heads of health care institutions, of course. Each head of a health care facility will inform how many health workers have been vaccinated. And we monitor it weekly.

Well, but if the head of the institution is also, say, an anti-vaccine and will cover his subordinates?

We do not have such heads of institutions – they are all vaccinated.

What about the officials, I wanted to ask? Because you are both doctors and officials, right? And these are all local governments, all utilities… In the city how?

Yes, we also monitor each department , each department. And of course, there is a different percentage. Therefore, this order, which will come into force on January 31, – I think it also encourages them to go get vaccinated.

This, as far as I understand, and janitors should be, and drivers…

Yes, everyone.

Well, drivers seem to have been obliged more significantly before. But there are garbage collectors – everyone?

Yes, everyone. All those who work in the city government.

No resistance, do not feel resistance, indignation?

Well, we don’t feel it yet.

Of course , thank you – our time has just come to an end. I would like to remind our viewers that today in our studio ZAXID.NET LIVE was Lesya Kobetska – Head of the Health Department of the Lviv City Council. My name is Oleg Onysko, thank you for reading and watching ZAXID.NET.

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