Low vaccination rate and tourism put Bulgaria at risk

Bulgaria, the country with the lowest vaccination rate in the EU, has every reason to fear a deadly fourth wave of COVID-19 infections caused by the highly infectious Delta variant being brought in by incoming tourists, authorities warned.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Greece is taking measures to convince young people to get vaccinated triggering a wave of reactions.

The authorities in Sofia are fearing a potential devastating fourth COVID-19 wave as the Delta variant finds fertile ground with only 14% of the country’s population having received at least one dose, and just 11.2% fully vaccinated.

Bulgaria is by far the EU country with the lowest vaccination rate, largely due to the influence of the anti-vaxxers. Fake news on social media and anti-vaccination sentiments, including among healthcare workers, are contributing to the phenomenon.

So far there have been seven Delta variant cases detected in the country.

At the same time, Bulgaria is opening up to Russian tourists after regular flights between the two countries resumed on Monday, despite Russia already experiencing a new wave triggered by the Delta variant. The vaccination rate in Russia is even lower than in Bulgaria.

According to an executive order by the health ministry dated 18 May, Bulgaria accepts tourists with vaccination certificates for the European-approved vaccines, but also for the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and the two Chinese jabs.

“The Delta variant will cause a new wave by the end of September if a new variant does not appear by then,” Chief Health Inspector Angel Kunchev said.

According to experts the Delta variant may become dominant in August and incoming tourists may pose an additional risk, given the small number of vaccinated people.

Kunchev advised Bulgarians to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

In neighbouring Greece, the government has decided to require a PCR test for Russian tourists even if they are fully vaccinated with the Russian jab.

The decision came following criticism by Germany and France directed at the country for being too lax with tourists and particularly for recognising Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

Greece’s national vaccination committee includes the Russian vaccine as an equivalent to European vaccines for travel purposes.

In addition, the government on Monday announced plans to grant €150 to every young Greek who has been vaccinated against COVID-19 or will get the jab soon, calling it “a gift of gratitude” ahead of the summer.

Known as the Freedom Pass, the scheme will have a prepaid credit of €150 and will be given to those born between 1996 and 2003.

An estimated 940,000 youngsters will be eligible to receive the subsidy, and they will be allowed to spend it on travel, tourism and cultural services within the country.

The move drew criticism from the opposition.

“The connection of the vaccine with the €150 pocket money, apart from being humiliating for the new generation that Mr. Mitsotakis has targeted so far, is also indicative of the way he thinks: Everything can be bought,” the opposition said.

Greece has so far administered 8 million vaccine doses, while almost 33% of the population has been fully vaccinated.

(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg, Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)