The planned payment of 100 euros did not have a great effect on encouraging people over 75 to get vaccinated against COVID-19, says Živilė Gudlevičienė, advisor to the Prime Minister.
"Even now, even one hundred euros really didn't encourage those older people to get vaccinated: they still delay, they still think they don't need it," she told LRT radio on Thursday.
According to the advisor, seniors repeat arguments that they do not go anywhere, do not meet anyone, so the virus is not dangerous for them, and they are also afraid of adverse reactions and health effects of the vaccine.
She said she did not have exact numbers, but information from family doctors shows that "out of several hundred calls, only a few seniors come to be vaccinated."
"Only a few percent come," said Ž. Gudlevičienė.
Meanwhile, according to the prime minister's advisor, vaccination with the third booster dose is going smoothly and there are no problems convincing the elderly.
"We really don't hear of problems getting vaccinated a third time - that someone refuses," she said.
Ž. According to Gudlevičienė, it is likely that in the future the coronavirus vaccine will become an annual vaccination recommended for persons in the risk group before the season - as is currently the case with flu vaccinations.
A one-time payment of 100 euros is given to seniors aged 75 and older who received two doses of vaccination between September and December, and those who received a booster dose before April of the following year.
Ž. According to Gudlevičienė, the last date to get vaccinated for the first time in order to receive this benefit is November 8.
The one-time payment is intended to be paid in December and April together with the pension.
The author is Austėja Masiokaitė-Liubinienė
