Doctors sound the alarm and say that the new British variant of COVID-19 causes havoc in the Republic of Moldova. The number of infections with SARS-COV-2 increases and the forms of the disease are more serious. As the health system is overburdened and there are no free places in intensive care units, the only solution is to massively vaccinate the population, IPN reports.

According to doctors, even if the Republic of Moldova does not have laboratories that would detect the British variant of COVID-19, the more serious forms of the disease, particularly the mass infection of children, point to the presence of the new strain in Moldova. The health system can no longer cope with the large number of infections and the vaccination is the only solution for overcoming the faced large-scale health crisis.

“The primary assistance health system is overstretched and the family doctor has many patients under supervision and cannot cope with the large number. There are patients who develop pneumonia during the first days, but pneumonia cannot be identified by phone. This way, there are patients receiving treatment at home whose state worsens considerably. There are no free places in hospitals. The health system is close to collapse,” epidemiologist Angela Paraschiv stated in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.

Moreover, the doctors say the unwillingness of some of the hospital employees to get an AstraZeneca vaccine is unjustified and this fact can diminish the general population’s confidence.  

“We cannot act like this now. Given the current conditions, with packed intensive care units, with very serious cases and multiple deaths, I don’t think the population has reasons to refuse the AstraZeneca vaccine,” stated Laura Țurcan, doctor of National Public Health Agency, noting the side effects of this vaccine reported in Moldova are insignificants and they are not a reason for concern.

“Such serious forms as anaphylaxis or serious allergic reactions haven’t been reported so far,” stated Laura Țurcan.

According to the national platform www.vaccinare.gov.md, 5,174 persons have been vaccinated since the start of the immunization campaign in the Republic of Moldova. The medical personnel of COVID-19 hospitals, intensive care and reanimatology units are vaccinated the first.