The first cases of the omicron version of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Slovenia
Marta Grgič Vitek presented updated vaccination recommendations. On the topic of vaccination of children up to 12 years of age, she said that vaccination is recommended for children with chronic diseases and those who live with these patients. The recommendations will also be amended to cover the booster dose. The booster dose is recommended after six months, with a minimum interval of three months between the primary and booster doses. As Grgič Vitek added, the advisory group that met yesterday also agreed with the European Commission’s proposal to limit the validity of the COVID digital certificate. For those vaccinated with the primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the validity of the COVID digital certificate will be limited to 270 days. After this period, the certificate will expire and a renewal dose will be required to renew the certificate.
According to the allegations dr Miroslav Petrovec, four samples of the omicron variant were detected in recent screening tests performed at the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology. The infected come from the Ljubljana area and were tested between November 29 and December 6. Epidemiological data are still being investigated. One of those infected contracted COVID-19 last year. That is why dr. Petrovec called on everyone to get vaccinated, and invited those who received two doses of the vaccine at least six months ago to get vaccinated with the third dose.
It is in its introduction Minister Poklukar presented epidemiological indicators measuring the burden of disease in hospitals. As he pointed out, of the 235 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, 83 percent are not vaccinated. According to the minister, there are a total of 817 coronavirus patients in hospitals, 71% of whom have not been vaccinated.
The Minister believes that the discovery of omicron could lead to a new wave of COVID-19. The decline in the number of infections in recent days has also slowed, and the minister has renewed a call for people to be vaccinated.
Poklukar pointed out that 90 percent of patients admitted to COVID-19 wards are over 45 years old. The situation is the same in the COVID-19 intensive care units. He also pointed out that about 190,000 people over the age of 50 have not yet been vaccinated. In this age group, the hospitalization rate is about 10%, while the admission rate to intensive care units is 3%. Depending on the rapid tolerability of the omicron variant, between 15,000 and 20,000 hospital admissions can be expected. The virus will continue to burden hospitals until the summer, which the health sector will find difficult to sustain.
The Minister added that a vaccination campaign will take place in Slovenia from 19 to 23 December 2021. Vaccination centers will be open at all current locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a vaccination center or location in each statistical region, where vaccination will take place from 8 pm to 8 am. Mobile units will also be set up, in greater numbers than in the past, concluded Minister Poklukar.