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The Swedish government has so far signed four vaccine agreements in the framework of procurement at the EU level. If the vaccine is approved, according to the Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (S) it is enough to be able to vaccinate the entire Swedish population against covid-19 and the start is scheduled for early January.
However, there will be difficult priorities. In a first step, only risk groups, people over 70 and care and nursing staff are included, a total of just over 2.6 million people, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency.
The Swedish Public Health Agency is responsible for national procurement of how a vaccine will be delivered to regions within Sweden, while the vaccine coordinator ensures that the drugs enter the country from company warehouses on the continent.
– Organizing this in a purely practical way is challenging. Everything is feasible and is a matter of planning. But if we have been successful in producing a vaccine in nine, ten months in hundreds of millions of doses, then this can only be fixed in a simple way, vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström tells TT.
In the 21 regions of the country, they are working hard to implement logistics with delivery, storage and vaccination.
An advantage is that in health there is already an established structure for vaccination against seasonal influenza, which is administered to around two million people annually.
– The regions have a system that is known and we are good at making great vaccines every year. Many participated in the swine flu vaccination and have good knowledge, says Emma Spak.
At the same time, some covid vaccines other requirements, for example for storage in extreme temperatures: down to minus 70 degrees. Regions are now investigating whether they can use existing refrigerators in hospitals or need to adapt transports and possibly invest in cryo-freezers, according to Emma Spak. If the vaccine is to be stored at free system temperature, handling at all stages will be more complicated and more expensive.
The Swedish Public Health Agency will coordinate with regions on how many doses they need and where they are shipped. The Jämtland-Härjedalen region, for example, has requested 100,000 doses in a first round that will be sufficient for its around 50,000 people in the priority group, writes SVT Nyheter.
With many problems remaining, regions can only plan up to a certain limit. Not all vaccines are likely to be given at the same time, which helps reduce pressure on care.
– There is work going on all the time that needs to be adjusted as we learn more about what vaccines we receive and when they arrive. If it occurs continuously over time, it is easier to coordinate and use regular vaccines and the usual structure in primary care. If we were to vaccinate everyone for a very short time, we would have to prioritize other activities, says Emma Spak.
The corona pandemic also means that mass vaccination must be infection-proof. Several regions are analyzing the possibility of establishing, in addition to health centers, vaccination clinics in external facilities to avoid queues and exclude walk-ins. Instead, it’s planned for appointments and home visits. According to Emma Spak, seasonal flu vaccines are already given in nursing homes.
– The elderly can remain in their usual environment. If it works that way, a lot has been gained, he says.
Regions are already under great stress in terms of massive covid testing and in many places they are being alerted to shortages of staff and resources.
What is the vaccination capacity, can regions handle this at the same time as current resources?
– Personnel consumption is completely dependent on the timing of the vaccine, but this issue makes it more important that regions have access to information as soon as possible when they receive the vaccine and to what extent, says Emma Spak.
– Vaccination and testing are two different processes to develop. The regions are working hard to ensure they can carry out vaccinations.
The Swedish Public Health Agency estimates that the public, from the age of 18, will be able to start getting vaccinated in the summer, and Emma Spak believes that the schedule will remain if the vaccine is approved and will be available to the regions by the end of the year. .
It is not clear how the regions will be reimbursed for additional costs, such as staff, administration and external providers. This is true despite the fact that all 21 regions will offer free vaccines for everyone. A vaccine is estimated to cost around SEK 150 per Swedish. The government has set aside SEK 4.5 billion to cover the purchase of the vaccine.
– Cost issues are being prepared and we are awaiting some clarification. Dialogues with the government continue, says Emma Spak.
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