Strumica, 20 October 2022 (MIA) — Only 12 residents of Strumica were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 in September as interest in the vaccines has decreased among locals, Dijana Masinova from the Strumica Public Health Center told MIA's Strumica correspondent during today’s vaccination drive organized by the country’s health authorities to boost vaccination rates. Also, according to Masinova, only a few citizens received boosters against SARS-CoV-2 during the vaccination drive on Thursday, with most people showing up to ask for more general information. “Most of the people who got their third and fourth doses last month had underlying medical conditions,” she said. “People have died [from SARS-CoV-2]. Some have been struggling with complications for months. So prevention is the best option,” she added. Under the slogan “Protected Together – Vaccines Work,” medical workers are offering free vaccines against severe cases of the disease in 24 localities nationwide through Oct. 26. In Strumica, Novo Selo and Vasilevo on Thursday, they were also helping citizens register for seasonal flu shot appointments. The COVID-19 vaccination drive was organized by the Ministry of Health and local public health centers with the support of UNICEF, USAID and WHO. According to the Ministry of Health, only 46.7 percent of North Macedonia's population has received two vaccine doses and 8.9 percent has had a third dose to protect them against the airborne virus. mr/