Spain has a high number of vaccinated and few new cases – SME.sk

MADRID. Infection rate coronavirus in Spain is among the lowest in Europe. At the same time, the country has the highest rate of vaccination against covid among large European countries.

However, experts warn that Spain may still be vulnerable to the pandemic, AFP reported on Thursday.

European exception

Spain is one of the first countries to hit the coronavirus pandemic. However, with many European countries reporting record infections, Spain has one of the lowest rates of infection.

In the past 14 days, they have recorded 63 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, according to AFP, this value is about twice as high in Italy, six times in Germany and Poland and 12 times in Britain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday that the pandemic was moving in a “positive” direction and “we have more than enough reason to be proud of what we have achieved.”

About 79 percent of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus. By comparison, in Britain and Germany it is only 67 percent.

Although vaccination rates are only slightly higher than in France or Italy, there is a much higher percentage of older people who are vaccinated against coronavirus.

As many as 99 percent of Spain’s population over the age of 70 has received it vaccine against covid.

Does a mild climate help?

According to Inaki Comas, a researcher at the Biomedical Institute in Valencia, the mild climate, which slows down the transmission of the virus at mass outdoor events, also helps Spain to fight the coronavirus.

However, experts warn that with the advent of colder weather, by gradually weakening the protection afforded by vaccines, and with new variants, the number of cases can be expected to increase over time.

“The rate of infection can be high, but if people are vaccinated and do not develop a severe course of the disease, it is not a problem,” Comas said.