STA, 24 March 2020 - The national coordinator of vaccination logistics, Jelko Kacin, says it is realistic to expect that 70% of Slovenia's population, or all adult residents, would be vaccinated by the summer, as the country expects to receive more than 250,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the end of June.
Kacin told the press on Wednesday that the country has been assured it would receive the first delivery of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine towards the end of April.
"The government will do everything to provide for the necessary quantities for the entire adult population," said Kacin.
Slovenia has so far ordered seven million doses of various vaccines against Covid, because another round of vaccination will probably be needed in the autumn, when vaccines against new strains of the coronavirus will probably be required, he said.
Residents older than 75 years will have been vaccinated by the end of the week, with those over 70 to follow next week, he announced.
Since the age limit on the AstraZeneca vaccine will be lifted, it will be also used for older residents.
The government will discuss changes to the national vaccination strategy later in the day to prioritise the group of people over 60 and then over 50, he announced.
He said Slovenia should have enough vaccine at the start of April to also start vaccinating those over 50.
He noted however the strategy could only be put in practice if enough doses are supplied, highlighting the AstraZeneca vaccine as the most problematic in this respect.
