Covid-19: Portugal opens vaccination to 5-11 year olds, demonstration in Belgium against the vaccination obligation of caregivers – archyde

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. Portugal has opened vaccination to children aged 5 to 11, while Sweden has taken a series of measures “Precautionary” and Belgium is preparing to make vaccination compulsory for caregivers – a decision against which thousands of people have protested.

The pandemic has killed at least 5.26 million people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Tuesday, December 7, at midday. The United States is, according to these sources, the most bereaved country with nearly 790,000 officially recorded deaths, ahead of Brazil (615,000), India (473,000), Mexico (295,000) and Russia ( 283,000).

The WHO estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic in the world could be two to three times higher, or 10 to 15 million deaths.

• 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 some 640,000 children potentially concerned. Although symptoms in children under the age of 11 “Are generally light”, some develop “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.

• In Belgium, demonstration against the compulsory vaccination of caregivers

Several thousand people demonstrated in Brussels on Tuesday against a plan by the Belgian government which intends to impose vaccination against Covid-19 on healthcare workers early next year. The procession gathered 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.

About 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, intends to make vaccination compulsory for caregivers from 1^er January. Those who refuse it would be suspended from practice from the 1^er January, even if they would have time to think about it to keep their contract.

• Sweden takes a series of “precautionary” measures

Sweden announced a series of measures on Tuesday “Precaution” faced with the risk of a new wave of Covid-19, which does not yet hit the Nordic country as much as elsewhere in Europe.

The Scandinavian kingdom, which has just set up for the first time a vaccination pass for certain gatherings, in an effort to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2, is also considering extending it to restaurants and other places like sports halls announced Premier Magdalena Andersson, in office since last week.

The vaccination pass, in force since 1^er December, granted for the time being after the injection of two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, is 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.