Denmark expands its booster shot effort
Everyone who has two doses will get a third.
It is official. Everyone who is fully vaccinated in Denmark will get a third booster dose.
Statsminister Mette Frederiksen posted on her Instagram account on Friday confirming the effort to administer third vaccine doses will expand to the general public beginning next week.
“Life as we know it has returned. The world is currently watching Denmark closely to see how its efforts in reopening society fare. This is because of the great efforts of everyone, and support for vaccines, our super weapon against the coronavirus. I am so incredibly grateful that so many people have rolled up their sleeves and gotten the shots. In order for us to get through the cold months that are coming, the health authorities have already started the revaccination of the first groups, including in nursing homes. Now it is time for more people to join in. That is why health authorities are now offering another dose. It begins with those of you who have completed your vaccination six months ago. The expectation is that all vaccinated Danes will be offered a booster shot. The first invitations will be sent out next week. This is not unexpected. We have purchased plenty of vaccine doses for the booster shot campaign. I hope as many of you will take the booster shot opportunity when it comes.”
Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke spoke to DR and said a third dose will come half a year after a second.
“We have a plan for the roll-out of the third vaccine shot, and it is that the Danes are invited six months and 14 days after they have received the second shot. This means that next week we will send out many invitations, primarily to people over the age of 65 and to employees in the health and seniors sectors and to people who otherwise have a weakened immune system.”
Currently, booster shots are being administered to vulnerable populations including those who are immunocompromised, seniors in nursing homes, and elderly people 85 years old and older.
To date, 134,843 third vaccine doses have been administered, covering 2.3% of the population.
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The European Union has activated its ‘Civil Protection Mechanism’ in order to get emergency COVID aid to Romania as the country battles its most severe infection wave yet.
The European Union is dipping into rescEU strategic medical reserve and sending 200 oxygen concentrators from the Netherlands. Another 50 oxygen concentrators are also coming from Poland. Italy is chipping in 5,200 vials of monoclonal antibodies.
Also helping with the effort is Denmark.
Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke:
“I can inform you that Denmark is now sending aid to Romania in the fight against COVID-19. The country is hard hit with high infection rates, a pressured healthcare system that lacks vacancies in the intensive care units and has suspended all non-essential hospitalizations and surgeries. On top of that, Romania unfortunately has significantly lower vaccine adherence than the EU average. Therefore, the country has requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.”
Denmark is sending 15 mobile respirators and eight oxygen concentrators to Romania. Heunicke says they are also in talks with Romanian authorities about offering further assistance if needed.
You might remember that just a few months ago, Romania threw in the towel on its vaccination campaign after running into heavy resistance. It then sold off millions of doses, including selling 1.17 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, to Denmark.