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Less than a week after the EU approved the first vaccine, EU countries started vaccinating against covid-19. On Sunday, Gun-Britt Johnsson, 91 from Mjölby, became the first Swede to be vaccinated. During the day, more people were vaccinated in nursing homes in Sweden.
Vaccine doses are limited at first, and therefore all countries are forced to prioritize who should get the vaccine first. Countries have slightly different strategies, some start with health personnel, for example. In Sweden, the first doses go, among other things, to people in nursing homes. It is reasonable, it is these people who have the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from covid-19. Throughout the year, we have seen how much damage the virus can do if it enters nursing homes. Sweden is not unique in this regard, but we have seen a high proportion of nursing home deaths in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain and the UK, to name just a few. In clinical studies, the vaccine has been shown to have a very high level of protection, 95 percent. If used correctly, the vaccine can save lives quickly.
It is an incredible research success. A year ago, we had not heard of the new coronavirus, sars-cov2 or covid-19. There is already a very effective approved vaccine in the EU and more are on the way. This would never have been possible if researchers, drug companies, governments, and other organizations hadn’t worked hard, invested a lot of money, and collaborated in ways never seen before.
Now we have one very important tool in the fight against covid-19. But you are not done yet and it is important not to relax with the other measures. About 600,000 people are included in the group to be offered vaccines for the first time in Sweden. We will receive 80,000 doses of vaccine per week at the beginning. Therefore, it will be many weeks before anyone who wants to be vaccinated can do so. Vaccinating people is also a logistical challenge. The vaccine must be stored at minus 70 degrees and requires two doses at three week intervals. Other vaccines that are in the approval process have different vaccination schedules and must be stored in other ways.
Many people are happy to get vaccinated when it is offered, but there are also people who hesitate. Those with questions should get answers without being accused of being vaccine opponents. We already have answers to many questions, but there are also things that we don’t know about vaccines yet and that we will get answers to as time goes on. The EU Medicines Agency reviewed all available data prior to approval of the first vaccine and concluded that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the potential risks of side effects. We must also remember that the risk of dying from covid-19 increases with age, and is particularly high for people over 70 years of age.
When it’s my turn, I’ll also get vaccinated. I’m waiting for that day. But we must start with those who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill and dying. I’m glad Sweden has chosen to prioritize Gun-Britt in Mjölby, Rosa in Gothenburg, Stig in Stockholm, Börje in Bollnäs, and others in nursing homes across the country. Vaccines will save lives.
Read more: Löfven grateful after the first vaccinations
