Portugal opens vaccination to 5-11 year olds, demonstration in Belgium against the vaccination obligation of caregivers
Faced with the progression of the pandemic, and the arrival of the new variant, Omicron, countries are continuing their efforts to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The pandemic has killed at least 5.26 million people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to a report established by Agence France-Presse from official sources, Tuesday, December 7. The United States is the most bereaved country with nearly 790,000 identified dead in Mexico, ahead of Brazil (615,000), India (473,000) and the (295,000).
The WHO estimates, taking into account the excess mortality and directly linked to the Covid-19 assessment, that the pandemic in the world could be two to three times higher, or 10 to 15 million deaths.
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Portugal opens vaccination to children aged 5 to 11
The Portuguese health authority recommended Tuesday that children aged 5 to 11 be vaccinated against Covid-19 while the country, whose vaccination rate is among the highest in the world, records an increase in contamination.
The recommendation of the Directorate-General for Health is based on the opinion “Favorable” a technical committee which assessed the risks and benefits of vaccination for the 640,000 children assessed. Although symptoms in children under the age of 11 “To be generally light”, some developments “Severe forms of Covid-19” while they are not suffering from risk diseases, argued the service of the Ministry of Health in a statement.
The European drug regulator recommended on November 25 that children aged 5 to 11 be inoculated with Pfizer’s version of the vaccine intended for children, which is weaker than that intended for adults. Portugal thus joins Italy, Greece and Spain among the countries which have given their approval to this messenger RNA vaccine for children.
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In Belgium, demonstration against the compulsory vaccination of caregivers
Several thousand people declared on Tuesday in Brussels a project of the Belgian government which intends to impose vaccination against Covid-19 on healthcare staff at the beginning of next year. The procession brings together 3,800 people according to the police, 5,000 according to the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions, a member of the common trade union front which had called for this day of action.
Around 10% of caregivers are not vaccinated in Belgium, according to a recent study. The protesters mainly protested against the risk of further thinning out the care units if unvaccinated caregivers can no longer work.
As part of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the government, led by the Flemish liberal Alexander De Croo, reports mandatory vaccination for caregivers from 1uh January. Those who refuse it suspended from practice from the 1uh January, even if they had time to think about it to keep their contract.
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Sweden and Norway tighten their sanitary measures
The Sweden announced on Tuesday a series of measures ” careful “ facing the risk of a new wave of Covid-19. The Scandinavian kingdom, which has just put in place for the first time a vaccination pass for certain gatherings, is also considering the extension to restaurants and other places such as sports halls, announced the Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, in office since last week.
The vaccination pass, in force since 1uh December, respect for the time after the injection of two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine required for indoor events of more than one hundred people. Sweden stood out during the pandemic with less coercive measures than elsewhere, minimal use of masks and the absence of containment.
The Norway will strengthen health measures to fight an outbreak of Covid-19 cases. As of Thursday, and for four weeks, the authorities recommend limiting the number of people invited to their homes to ten – a ceiling raised to twenty and for one single occasion over the Christmas holiday period.
Wearing a mask will also be compulsory again if a social distance – which will again have to be respected – of one meter cannot be ensured. Alcohol should be served at the table in bars and restaurants until midnight maximum.