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ARCHIVED - Spain approves fourth Covid vaccine for over 60s and changes monkeypox strategy
The Ministry of Health in Spain has refused to confirm when the Covid booster will be applied
When it comes to the second booster dose against coronavirus, Spain has thus far paddled its own canoe and largely ignored EU recommendations to administer the fourth jab as soon as possible. The Ministry of Health has also proved changeable, first saying that the additional vaccine would be offered to people over 80, then switching tact and suggesting that in the coming months, it should be given to the entire population.
This week, after the European Commission asked countries to “immediately” administer a fourth dose to over 60s in an attempt to halt the seventh Covid wave and reduce hospital pressure, the Spanish government has conceded. Partly.
The Public Health Commission has agreed to offer a second booster to this population, but not until the autumn, when vaccines specifically designed to target the Omicron subvariants should be available.
“The moment to do so has yet to be defined based on the scientific evidence and the epidemiological situation,” reported the Ministry of Health, adding that priority number one is still encouraging the remainder of the population to receive their second jab.
Right now, 92.7% of the population over the age of 12 is fully vaccinated, but this figure drops to 44.8% in children between 5 and 12 years.
“It is important to remind the population to start or complete, depending on each case, the recommended vaccination schedule for their age,” the Ministry pointed out.
Monkeypox
Spain now has the highest number of confirmed monkeypox cases in Europe and, with after receiving more than 5,000 smallpox vaccines, has changed tactics in how it will handle the spread of the virus.
Health officials have decided that the smallpox jab will be given before exposure in the case of “people who maintain high-risk practices,” while the vaccine will be given after exposure to monkeypox in people at risk of serious illness, such as children, pregnant women and immunosupressed people.
The smallpox immunisation will also be administered to health and laboratory personnel after contact with confirmed cases if their personal protective equipment (PPE) is believed to have been compromised.
Image: Freepik
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