We Have No Cases of Death from Vaccination: Minister's Interview

Interview with Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan. Written by hraparak.am:

- From today, masks must be worn in open spaces. Do you think transitioning to the initial restrictions of COVID will remedy the situation?

- We are guided by the application of feasible and appropriate restrictions at this time. We understand that all current anti-epidemic measures are aimed at curbing the escalating wave. We see a daily dynamic of positive cases, an increase in the severity of the illness, younger demographics, and an aggressive progression of the disease among pregnant women, and we must do everything to control this wave.

- Is it not too late to implement these restrictions?

- I don’t think so. We are undertaking all possible measures, and the policy is being developed by analyzing both international and accumulated local experiences, and our proposals are approved by the government after discussions. You see, when Armenia transitioned last year to a non-lockdown policy with more targeted restrictions, it raised concerns. But this policy has proven to be quite sensible and balanced in the long term. Right now, our policy is to urgently increase vaccination coverage, and of course, masks as a short-term, rapid action measure can play an important role. Without going into economic restrictions, we have the opportunity to control the source of infection.

- After this restriction, citizens recalled Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement that citizens are not material for fines. I believe you understand what a campaign will ensue against the government and you when mass fines start being imposed. Last year, many contested those penalties in court and won.

- I’m glad you mention that, which means we also have a fair judicial process, and if someone has been unfairly fined, there are all chances to appeal those fines. Our goal is not fines; it is a reasonable and responsible approach. We have big problems. If everyone makes a small contribution to solving it, we can do so without significant economic damage. If each person, without waiting to be fined, can exert public responsibility, we can save lives in a very simple manner. I believe we do have such a capability. I trust and depend on the wisdom, rationality, and care of our people.

- Experience shows that until strict enforcement is applied, people do not comply with the law.

- The tools must be numerous to achieve results. To change behavior, relying solely on strict rules or high awareness cannot guarantee results. Thus, we need to apply a variety of tools.

- Will the citizens who voted for this government post-war have a heightened sense of responsibility and awareness?

- Certainly, during the post-war period, everyone’s priorities have completely changed, and we all understand that after such a disaster, it is very difficult to revive the priority of vaccination and prevention. But we see that over time our people, recognizing and understanding, also implementing certain new rules, we now have queues for vaccinations.

- What has the dynamic been after vaccinations regarding the numbers of infected, severely ill, and deaths? It seems the numbers are not decreasing.

- Our specialists have repeatedly stated that the “Delta” variant, unfortunately, is characterized by both more active spreading and more severe illness, particularly among younger people. We have seen cases where 20-30 year old citizens, with no chronic illnesses, have suffered a sharp deterioration, and unfortunately, it was not possible to save their lives. We currently have over 50 pregnant women receiving treatment for pneumonia in medical centers, which did not occur in previous waves. This is very concerning, not just in Armenia, but in all countries. However, we also see that those who are vaccinated experience the illness in a much milder form. Even those with chronic conditions can recover from it.

- Do you have statistics on how many of the deceased or those infected with COVID were vaccinated, and have you determined the reasons for their deaths despite being vaccinated?

- I mentioned one case, and since then there have been speculations and distortions that supposedly someone died from the vaccination, whereas I clearly stated that we had a citizen over 80 years old who contracted COVID after being vaccinated and the illness progressed severely, leading to their death. However, we must understand the causal relationships in connection with other health issues, and our group of doctors investigates every case, transparently presenting the findings to the public. We have had no cases of death from vaccination; I state this clearly. We need to understand that when a person is vaccinated, it does not mean they will not die from any other cause afterward. I repeat, there are no cases of side effects that have not been investigated by our commissions, and there are no death cases resulting from receiving the vaccine.