Janez Poklukar

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša has proposed that President Borut Pahor call a meeting of the heads of parliamentary parties and deputy groups with the Health Ministry and its Covid-19 advisory group as soon as possible. Pahor meanwhile said that he had sent out invitations for Sunday morning.

Ljubljana – Slovenia has decided to resume using the AstraZeneca vaccine after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) assessed AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine “safe and effective” after a review of possible blood clot risks.

Brdo pri Kranju – Health experts urged politicians on Wednesday to tackle the Covid-19 epidemic as a united front, Health Minister Janez Poklukar said after a meeting at Brdo pri Kranju hosted by President Borut Pahor. Pahor and Prime Minister Janez Janša assessed the meeting, the kind of which are to be held once a month, as useful.

Brussels – Slovenia has ordered 90% of the vaccines it is entitled to in the first and second quarter of the year on a pro rata basis. In December, it did not put in an order for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine during a second round of joint EU purchasing, show figures from the EU’s vaccination steering board.

Brussels – Health Minister Janez Poklukar took part in a EU ministerial to note that many member states had called for a single EU strategy to improve sequencing, as new coronavirus strains were currently the greatest threat, for the free flow of people and goods, but also for the healthcare systems.

Ljubljana – Slovenia has decided to temporarily halt the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine pending a decision by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Health Minister Janez Poklukar said Monday the Slovenian expert group for vaccines had not found reasonable grounds to stop using the jab.

Ljubljana – Health Minister Janez Poklukar has shot to the top of popularity ratings of politicians in a poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo, to replace President Borut Pahor after nearly nine years on top.

Delo notes that the public appears to have high expectations for Poklukar, the doctor who took over as health minister on 23 February.

Ljubljana – The Covid-19 vaccination advisory group of the National Public Health Institute (NIJZ) has said that, for the time being, there are not reasons to suspend vaccination with any of the Covid-19 vaccines, with monitoring showing that they do not cause blood clots and, if they do, this happens very rarely.

Ljubljana – The government has decided to launch a free-of-charge testing campaign near border crossings with Italy. Rapid antigen testing will be available from Wednesday for commuters, students being schooled across the border and owners of property across the border.

Ljubljana – Secondary school students in years 1-3 are joining their final-year peers on Monday as secondary schools fully reopen under model C, meaning half of the students will come to school for a week while the other half will continue learning from home. The vaccination of teachers will also start for those over 50 years old.