Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday that two weeks after he, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic and Health Minister Vili Beros received an AstraZeneca Covid-19 shot, 'they did not have any problems,' meaning that the vaccine is reliable and should be used.

Speaking at a government session, Plenkovic commented on the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) position on the safety of vaccination with AstraZeneca in the context of side effects reported in some countries, noting that EMA was very clear and that the benefits of vaccination outweighed the risks of side effects.

He added that Croatia had procured another 740,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that would arrive in April, May and June.

By 30 June we will have around 2.5 million vaccine doses, which is less than planned due to the slow delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccine on the global, and particularly European, level, he said.

“But we will be able to inoculate more than 50% of the adult population with those vaccines, as preparation for the summer months,” said Plenkovic who expects the relevant authorities to organise vaccination quickly and efficiently and to inoculate as many citizens as possible.

He also commented on an increase in the number of new infections today, with 3,217 new cases having been reported.

“That is around 800 cases more than eight days ago, which is due to socialising during the Easter holidays,” he said, calling again for personal responsibility and compliance with epidemiological restrictions.

One out of 45 infected persons will die

He repeated that Croatia was pursuing a policy of carefully calibrated restrictions which had made it possible, unlike in other countries, to have a more normal way of life, education, work and movement.

“In order to maintain the current situation, it is important for people to understand that out of 45 infected people one person will die in the coming weeks,” he said.

At today’s government session, Plenkovic offered congratulations on International Romani Day, stressing that the Roma ethnic minority was the second largest minority in Croatia, after the Serb minority.

“By implementing our operational programmes for ethnic minorities we will continue to promote the status of Roma in Croatia and their social integration,” said Plenkovic.