Close to 17,000 vaccination slots will become available on Tuesday for people 71 and above across the Republic, the health ministry said.

People within the age group can set up an appointment starting at 9am on Tuesday. The ministry said 16,904 slots will be made available, as two large vaccination centres were also opening this week.

One is located at the old power company building in Paphos with seven crews, expected to open on Thursday; the other in Larnaca, at the Pasydy building, which will open on Friday and will also be staffed with seven crews.

Cyprus has made vaccinating its elderly population a priority and according to the European Centre of Disease Control it was in second place as regards the above 80 category.

According to health ministry figures, until last Saturday, 58,490 people have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Of those, 19,221 have received both doses.

The total includes frontline health professionals and some people with chronic illnesses.