Joint message from local authorities and businesses - Get vaccinated so we can be added to the Green List
COVID-19
02 Jun 2021
/ 15:12
CORFU. Concern about the low numbers at the Mega vaccination centre.
The medical community in Corfu is concerned about the very low number of people getting vaccinated, especially at the Mega vaccination centre where it is way below the goal of 1,000 a day - which is needed in order to achieve 40,000 vaccinations by 10 July.
Today, the third day of operation, only 114 appointments had been made for the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine! On the first day (31 May) there were 480 vaccinations out of 600 appointments and on the second day only 180 of the 200 appointments came.
"The rate of vaccination at the Mega vaccination centre is not good," said Corfu Medical Association President Dimitris Kaloudis. "What we can see is that the Corfu public is not coming to get vaccinated and mainly the younger age groups. We have young people coming from Ioannina to get vaccinated at the centre but not from Corfu." He added that, nevertheless, there is a steady increase in the vaccination rate at the hospital - especially since the second week of operation of the streams.
According to the available data for Corfu, there were 1,495 vaccinations in Corfu on 1 June. The total number of vaccinations to date is 60,668 - 41,411 have been vaccinated at least once (+ 923 on 1/6) and 24,481 have been fully vaccinated (+ 1,082 on 1/6).
Joint message - get vaccinated
At a joint press conference at the Municipal Theatre today the three local authorities along with tourist professionals and business representatives urged people in Corfu to get vaccinated in order to build up immunity and get onto the green travel list so that tourism can recover.
"Over 80% of the population make a living from tourism and tourism-related activities," said Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Mayor Meropi Ydraiou. "We all have to safeguard and protect our tourist product and the only way to do that is through the immediate vaccination of all the population. We call on all our fellow citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible. She pointed out that getting vaccinated was the basic prerequisite for Corfu to be added to the green list, which means that 70-80% of the population needs to have been vaccinated by the end of June.
This was reiterated by Deputy Mayors Socrates Andriotis and Fanis Skebris from South and North Corfu respectively.
"There are some people who don't want to get vaccinated," Mr. Andriotis told Enimerosi. "We are trying to persuade these people today. There was a problem over the last couple of weeks in two villages but I believe that things have now been smoothed out."
Campaign to raise awareness
Corfu Hoteliers' Association President Babis Voulgaris said that the tourist sector in collaboration with the Regional Administration will be starting a campaign in the Ionian Islands to raise public awareness regarding the vaccination. "If we aren't added to the green list, then we won't have tourists," he said. "To achieve this we need to get vaccinated and adhere to the safety measures. It is so simple and yet in some cases seems to be so difficult. Vaccination is a matter of both individual and collective responsibility."
Board member Vassilis Kaloudis said that Corfu Chamber of Commerce began a campaign on 12 May calling on business professionals and their employees to get vaccinated.
The percentage of business employees vaccinated is approximately 80-90%.
Also taking part in the press conference were representatives from the Ionian Trade Federation, the Association of Travel Agents, Corfu Restaurant Association and Corfu Federation of Tourist Accommodation Owners.
Today, the third day of operation, only 114 appointments had been made for the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine! On the first day (31 May) there were 480 vaccinations out of 600 appointments and on the second day only 180 of the 200 appointments came.
"The rate of vaccination at the Mega vaccination centre is not good," said Corfu Medical Association President Dimitris Kaloudis. "What we can see is that the Corfu public is not coming to get vaccinated and mainly the younger age groups. We have young people coming from Ioannina to get vaccinated at the centre but not from Corfu." He added that, nevertheless, there is a steady increase in the vaccination rate at the hospital - especially since the second week of operation of the streams.
According to the available data for Corfu, there were 1,495 vaccinations in Corfu on 1 June. The total number of vaccinations to date is 60,668 - 41,411 have been vaccinated at least once (+ 923 on 1/6) and 24,481 have been fully vaccinated (+ 1,082 on 1/6).
Joint message - get vaccinated
At a joint press conference at the Municipal Theatre today the three local authorities along with tourist professionals and business representatives urged people in Corfu to get vaccinated in order to build up immunity and get onto the green travel list so that tourism can recover.
"Over 80% of the population make a living from tourism and tourism-related activities," said Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Mayor Meropi Ydraiou. "We all have to safeguard and protect our tourist product and the only way to do that is through the immediate vaccination of all the population. We call on all our fellow citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible. She pointed out that getting vaccinated was the basic prerequisite for Corfu to be added to the green list, which means that 70-80% of the population needs to have been vaccinated by the end of June.
This was reiterated by Deputy Mayors Socrates Andriotis and Fanis Skebris from South and North Corfu respectively.
"There are some people who don't want to get vaccinated," Mr. Andriotis told Enimerosi. "We are trying to persuade these people today. There was a problem over the last couple of weeks in two villages but I believe that things have now been smoothed out."
Campaign to raise awareness
Corfu Hoteliers' Association President Babis Voulgaris said that the tourist sector in collaboration with the Regional Administration will be starting a campaign in the Ionian Islands to raise public awareness regarding the vaccination. "If we aren't added to the green list, then we won't have tourists," he said. "To achieve this we need to get vaccinated and adhere to the safety measures. It is so simple and yet in some cases seems to be so difficult. Vaccination is a matter of both individual and collective responsibility."
Board member Vassilis Kaloudis said that Corfu Chamber of Commerce began a campaign on 12 May calling on business professionals and their employees to get vaccinated.
The percentage of business employees vaccinated is approximately 80-90%.
Also taking part in the press conference were representatives from the Ionian Trade Federation, the Association of Travel Agents, Corfu Restaurant Association and Corfu Federation of Tourist Accommodation Owners.
