Vaccination against COVID-19 is important because it reduces the risk of disease and the risk of developing a severe form of the disease. Vaccination is an important tool to stop the spread of the pandemic, reduce the overload of health facilities, thus allowing the reopening of health facilities for non-COVID patients. Thus, the conditions will be created for the reopening of socio-economic activities and the facilitation of free movement.

The monitoring of the level of vaccine coverage, safety and efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19 is carried out using electronic platforms, in compliance with the legislation on personal data protection. According to the strategy on vaccination against COVID-19 in Romania, a module dedicated to vaccination against COVID-19 will be developed within the National Electronic Vaccination Register (RENV), which will constitute the electronic database on vaccination, in compliance with legal personal data protection provisions.

Each person to be vaccinated will receive a vaccination certificate. This certificate is recognised across Romania and also can be used to generate the “Green Certificate”.

In clinical trials, the vaccine was also given to people who had a detectable level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and no side effects were detected, only an increase in the immune response. Vaccination is available, based on consent, whether or not the infection has occurred.

It’s also important to recognise, that these anti-bodies have been proven to be most effective within 10-180 days of the initial confirmation of the infection. 

An unvaccinated person can become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and transmit it to those they come in contact with, even if the other person is vaccinated. However, symptoms and the risks associated with severe illness are much less likely to occur in vaccinated individuals.

Yes, those who have been both partially and fully vaccinated still have the possibility of transferring the virus to an unvaccinated person, if they have been infected. The vaccinated person may not have any symptoms and will likely overcome any symptoms faster than an unvaccinated person, but risks of transmission are still possible.

At European Union level, the vaccines that will be used in vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 are those that have received approval from the European Medicines Agency. All details on the evaluation and approval process are available and constantly updated on the website of the European Medicines Agency .

According to the Strategy for vaccination against COVID-19 in Romania, vaccination will be carried out in stages, respecting the population groups. For stage I, vaccination will be organized at work and through fixed and mobile vaccination centers, and for stages II and III vaccination will be organized through fixed and mobile vaccination centers, mobile teams, family medics, drive-through centers.

Yes, according to the strategy for vaccination against COVID-19 in Romania, vaccination is voluntary and non-mandatory.

Yes, according to the strategy for vaccination against COVID-19 in Romania, vaccination is free.

The administration of a vaccine against COVID-19 is just one of the critical tools for limiting the effects of the pandemic, along with other instruments: compliance with restrictions and hygiene measures (wearing a mask, washing hands and physical distance).

According to the national vaccination strategy against COVID-19, people with chronic diseases, regardless of age, are given priority for vaccination, taking into account the indications and contraindications of the vaccines used.

Yes, a person who has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 can be vaccinated voluntarily when they meet the prioritization criteria. It is not intended to exclude from vaccination persons with a known previous infection, nor to test persons before vaccination.

It is currently unknown how long after infection we are protected or the level of antibodies needed to be protected. Recent studies show that in most people, neutralizing antibodies (those that can block cell infection) persist for at least a few months after the initial infection. Studies also show that the immune response to natural infection can vary greatly depending on the individual and the severity of the disease.

Regulators do not recommend excluding participants in Phase 3 clinical trials based on evidence of a previous infection so that most manufacturers have already vaccinated people who have gone through the disease without reporting any serious side effects.

Drive-through vaccination centers are fixed vaccination centers specially designed for the third stage of the vaccination process, which is addressed to the general population. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the organization and arrangement of these centers will be done in large urban agglomerations, in areas that allow access to people with their own vehicles. The organization and arrangement of drive-through vaccination centers will be done in compliance with all safety and hygiene rules, to facilitate access to vaccination, streamline the vaccination process, avoid overcrowding or sacrifice of vaccine doses. The organization of such drive-through centers is proposed by the strategy of the World Health Organization.

Mobile vaccination centers are vaccination centers / mobile caravans organized in different stages of the vaccination process. The organization and arrangement of these mobile vaccination centers will be done, when necessary, to facilitate access to vaccination for people serving essential activities, people in residential and medical and social centers and, where appropriate, people among the population. for which access to vaccination is limited. The organization and arrangement of mobile vaccination centers will be done in compliance with all safety and hygiene rules, in order to facilitate access to vaccination, streamline the vaccination process, avoid overcrowding or sacrifice of vaccine doses.

Vaccines will prepare the human body to defend against COVID-19. To enter the body and cause disease, the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses a protein on its shell, a protein called protein S (spike). Vaccines contain the genetic instructions (messenger RNA) needed to generate the S protein. When a person is vaccinated, their cells will “read” the genetic instructions in the messenger RNA and synthesize the S protein. The person’s immune system will recognize this protein as and will trigger immune defense mechanisms, producing specific antibodies and T cells. If the vaccinated person later comes into contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their immune system will recognize the virus and, through specific antibodies and T cells, will neutralize the virus, thus preventingentering healthy cells of the body and destroying any infected cells. This will ensure protection against COVID-19.

There are 3 main reasons why you may wish to receive an additional dose, those are:

1. If you’re in a category of people that didn’t respond adequately to the first two doses that you received, such as immunocompromised people.
2. If over time the immunity that you received and achieved as a result of being vaccinated starts to decrease, although evidence shows that the vaccines are holding up extremely well to protect against severe disease, hospitalisation or death.
3. If the performance of the vaccines are less or inadequate against some of the variants of concern that have emerged

The Romanian Government is currently offering fourth vaccinations shots, however, the World Health Organization has not endorsed this, nor has it made any recommendations or provided any research to suggest that there is a significant benefit to receiving a fourth dose.

Anybody who received a 2nd dose 180 days (approx 6 months) ago is eligible for a third dose.

You are eligible even if vaccinated without an appointment initially, as your vaccination will be already registered in the system.

Those vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson aren’t yet eligible for a booster.

People with any combination of initial vaccines are eligible, including, for example, people who had AZ first and then Pfizer for a second dose.

However, those vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson aren’t yet eligible for a booster.

You can schedule online by visiting: https://programare.vaccinare-covid.gov.ro