COVID-19 Vaccination Kicks Off in Central, Eastern Europe

As in the rest of the EU, health workers, politicians and civil society leaders trying to dispel popular distrust of vaccines were chosen to take the first jabs in symbolic ceremonies designed to kickstart national vaccination campaigns across the region.

Branka Anicic (C) receives a vaccine from doctor Miro Hanzevacki (L) at Home of Elderly people 'Tresnjevka' in Croatian capital Zagreb, 27 December 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT

Vaccination in Croatia started on Sunday with 81-year-old Branka Anicic. "I'm very happy that this home for the elderly was chosen for the start of the vaccination [campaign], and because we will finally be able to lead a more normal life," Anicic said, referring to the Zagreb nursing home where she lives.

The first consignment of vaccines reached the country of 4.5 million on Saturday. Some 270,000 doses are expected to arrive in weekly lots until March. The country expects to receive 5.7 million doses in total.

Slovenian patient (L) receives a vaccine against the COVID-19 at a Home for Elderly people in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 27 December 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/IGOR KUPLJENIK

Slovenia also started vaccinating its population on Sunday, when residents and staff of nursing homes in the capital and other two cities were inoculated with some of the 9,750 doses that the country has so far obtained.

Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov (L) and Bishop Tikhon (C) were the first patients to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Bulgaria, on 27 December 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/Borislav Troshev

Bulgarian Health ministerAngelov was first to be vacciated along with the head of the team charged with leading the country's pandemic response, Dr Ventislav Mutafchiyski, and a priest, Fr Tihon Tiveriopolski, whose...