Danish-Norwegian summit on corona – VG
On Friday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had a corona conversation with Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Fredriksen. Støre says that Norway will quickly assess a booster dose for adults under 45 years of age.
– We exchanged experiences about covid and listened to each other’s experience. It was useful, says Støre to VG after the corona conversation between the two Nordic prime ministers.
He says that Denmark has a very similar situation as Norway, high infection rates, even higher than in Norway right now, where both countries had to introduce strict measures to prevent the spread of omicrons.
Fredriksen compared in the conversation – with a year ago.
– She experiences that the capacity was harder tested in December last year and it is in December this year. The situation is a little different in Norway.
He says they also discussed vaccine strategy.
– There is a very clear message in both countries that we must set the third dose. From the Norwegian side, we are busy doing everything we can to have as high a pace in vaccination as possible, says Støre:
The Prime Minister says the government will follow the advice from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), which can give the first 45-year-olds a third chance even before Christmas:
– We will soon receive advice from FHI on booster vaccination of those under 45, and will process the case as soon as we can. It is very positive if the institute believes that the municipality has the opportunity to start vaccinating this group before Christmas.
VG received confirmation earlier Friday that FHI’s professional assessments of vaccination in groups 18 to 45 have now been completed, so that it will not delay the vaccination pace.
The military, students and other forces are involved in the work of vaccinating the population.
The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and Norsk Industri also want to contribute.
They have occupational health services linked to shipping companies and large companies.
– Both Norsk Industri and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association have offered to use the capacity of our companies to put booster vaccines on workers and seafarers. We have medical capacity in the value chain, the leaders write to the organization, in a joint post.
– The only thing we need is access to vaccine doses and the opportunity to register the vaccines so that the documentation for the individual vaccinated is updated, write Stein Lier Hansen in Norwegian Industry and Harald Solberg in the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association.
– It’s just driving
Støre says the initiative is welcomed.
– We applaud all good forces. It’s just to drive on, in contact with the municipality. Now we need many creative solutions, other than the defense and the pharmacies that are opening up.
– Do we have enough doses?
– Yes we have. Here it is important to have high motivation and enough arms to put the vaccine in, says the Prime Minister.
When the Solberg government shut down the country, Støre was out and criticized the government for first shutting down and for sending measures.
If you look in the rearview mirror, you can be criticized for the same thing; powerful measures first, and then later support schemes are in place?
– I think the criticism at the time was justified. In parallel with our initiatives, we have now presented support schemes and implemented compensation schemes and provided support for cultural life. But we must talk to the parties to adjust the scheme so that they meet as best as possible those who need help, says Støre.