Yesterday, the government started the vaccination of doctors and nurses in Elbasan.
During a visit to the regional hospital where 300 medical staff will be vaccinated, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the first to receive the vaccine will be doctors and nurses in the ER, followed by those working in resuscitation.
He said that by the end of March, all medical staff will be vaccinated and the program will continue to those that are over 80.
Rama confirmed that everyone over the age of 80 will also be vaccinated by the end of March. It’s not clear how this will be achieved with the current number of confirmed doses.
The Albanian government has already started vaccinating those over 80, starting will celebrities. These included Alfred Moisiu, Margarita Xhepa, Piro Milkani, and Sherig Merdani.
Following widespread criticism of choosing to vaccinate celebrities before other individuals of that age group, Rama said they were selected as an “expression of care” for these people and that it’s a way to honor them while they are alive, instead of posthumously.
President Ilir Meta called the decision to vaccinate celebrities classist.
Albania recently received 9615 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Rama said they will receive a further 40,000 Pfizer doses by the end of the month, and a further 360,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by way of an anonymous donation, by April.
