Spain is going to start mass vaccination against the COVID-19 next year. As The Local Spain has learned, on January 4th or 5th the first shot will be done.
Spain’s health minister Salvador Illa has announced on Monday the date when the kingdom starts the vaccination. Presuming that the European Medicines Agency approves use of the vaccine by December 29th then authorities will begin the programme of widespread vaccination in early January.
On Monday, the Cabinet has rolled out a plan which sees anti-COVID vaccines given to the group of high risk like elderly residents and staff in nursing homes first, then health workers. According to the preliminary plan, it will then gradually roll out free vaccinations to the whole population.
Health minister Illa said that Spain hoped to achieve herd immunity from COVID-19 by the end of summer 2021 when more than two-thirds of the population of 47 million should be vaccinated.
In five to six months, Spain should become a safe country – for living, working and travelling. Asked about herd immunity, Illa stressed that people have immunity either because they are vaccinated or because they have had the disease.
Despite the mass vaccination, the top medical official warned Spaniards against big gatherings over the Christmas period. The health minister cautioned people to maintain safety measures to curb the COVID-19 infection.
