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The entire population of Sweden can be vaccinated against covid-19 next year.
Does this mean that we will soon be able to return to a normal daily life? Not at all, according to Johan Carlson, CEO of the Swedish Public Health Agency.
– You can accept that the measurements will be kept for a long time.
Today, the government announced that Sweden has signed an agreement to buy 4.5 million doses of vaccines from Pfizer, the manufacturer that last week declared the vaccine to be 90 percent efficient. We already have, through the EU, agreements with Astra Zeneca and Jansen Pharmeceutica. In total, the government has secured ten million doses of vaccines for next year, which means that anyone who wants to will be able to get vaccinated against covid-19.
An encouraging message, according to Johan Carlson, Director General of the Swedish Public Health Agency, who, however, did not take any happy photos of the news of the vaccine.
– It is encouraging that we see that it is possible to develop a vaccine. It is the most important measure to prevent people from getting sick and stop a pandemic, he said during the speedy press conference.
Facing challenges
He also recalled that there is still no approved and clear vaccine and that more knowledge is needed about the different vaccines to know how important they will be in the future development of the pandemic.
– This does not mean that the pandemic is over and that we can ease other restrictions and advice. We have to persevere until next fall before we can see any major effects on the spread of the infection, says Johan Carlson.
But that two vaccines have shown efficacy of up to 90 to 94.5 percent is good news, according to him. At such a high level, it can have a significant effect on the spread of the infection.
Photo: NILS PETTER NILSSON
Johan Carlson, CEO of the Swedish Public Health Agency.
In normal cases, this development takes between 10 and 15 years. During the corona pandemic, the process takes place in one year. Both vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström and Johan Carlson pointed to some logistical challenges.
– We are facing challenges where great flexibility is required to be able to handle different vaccines, volumes and storage requirements and different types of side effects, says Johan Carlson.
Must hold until next fall, at least
Initially, people over 70 years of age and risk groups will be vaccinated, as well as health and assistance personnel. After that, the general public will be able to request vaccination.
An Aftonbladet / Demoskop poll shows that two out of three Swedes are positive for a corona vaccine, but many still want to wait. However, Johan Carlson is not so concerned about this result.
– I’m not that worried. It is natural for people who are not as affected by the pandemic when the vaccine is so unfamiliar. When we start with the groups that are not at particular risk, we have a different situation.
So how far does it take us to open society and live as always?
– The goal of a vaccine is to protect vulnerable groups and, second, to protect and safeguard care. When we have major effects on the spread of the infection, it will take longer, perhaps one year or another. We have said that we must persevere until next fall before we can discuss the main effects on the spread of the infection.
– There are many reasons to keep the measurements and adapt to the fact that they will be kept for a long time.
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