After first dose of AstraZeneca, a second one of Pfizer could be administered

AstraZeneca vaccine will not be administered to women under 65 years of age with an increased risk of thrombosis and/or a history of thrombocytopenia. This is the decision of the National Vaccine Task Force,outgoing Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov and the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev said at a press conference.

It was also reported that all people who received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine and did not show any serious side effects could be immunized with a second dose of the same vaccine.

Individuals vaccinated with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine who do not wish to receive a second dose of the same vaccine may receive a dose of Pfizer vaccine no earlier than 84 days after the first dose of AstraZeneca. The vaccination will then be considered complete.

Among individuals who were infected with Covid-19 after the first dose of the vaccine, the second dose will be given no earlier than 6 months after laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis. Those who recovered from Covid-19 can be vaccinated according to a full immunization schedule no earlier than 3 months after laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis. People who do not want a second dose will not receive a vaccination certificate, Angelov said.

9% of Covid-19 tests return positive result

418 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Bulgaria in the past 24 hours out of 4,644 tests performed, data of the Single Coronavirus Information Portal show. 9% of the tests have returned positive result. The highest number of new infections was reported in Sofia-125, followed by Varna district-67 and Burgas district-26. There are 64,508 active cases of Covid-19. 9,229 patients are in hospital, as 783 of them are in intensive care wards. 57 people have died and 1,441 have recovered in the past 24 hours. 1,227 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in this country in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of inoculations against the novel coronavirus to 638,443.

Greece opens Makaza border crossing for cars

The Makaza border checkpoint is currently open for cars going to Greece. At the checkpoint on the Greek side, mobile health teams will work until April 26, taking quick tests for Covid-19 from anyone passing in the time interval 7: 00-23: 00. At night, passengers in both directions will not be allowed through the checkpoint - only drivers of trucks up to 3.5 tons carrying international goods will be able to pass. As of today, the mandatory seven-day quarantine for citizens entering Greece from the EU, USA, Great Britain, Serbia, Israel and the UAE is lifted. Entry into the country is done with a certificate of vaccination in English or PCR test. Greece will recognize all vaccines, without exception.

Editor: Vesela Krasteva

English: Radio Bulgaria English Service

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