Third vaccine dose agreed for residents aged 40-plus

NATIONAL health authorities have approved a third vaccine dose for residents aged 50 to 59 inclusive and for anyone who originally had the AstraZeneca jab, irrespective of how old they are.

Vaccinated in descending order of age, once the 50-year-olds have had their third jab, those aged 49 will be summoned, and everyone aged 40-plus will be offered the booster.

For the moment, though, minister Carolina Darías has ruled out applying any restrictions on movement or gatherings, or shutting down any non-essential industries.

She considers that the best weapons against the spread of Covid are to ensure everyone is vaccinated who can be, to wear masks indoors, wear them outdoors where social distancing is not possible, and to keep enclosed spaces well ventilated.

During a press conference last night (Wednesday), Sra Darías said her team had not discussed measures recommended by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), believing these to have been aimed more at other parts of the continent.

“I understand that the situation in other European countries in terms of vaccine rates is not the same as in Spain,” said the health minister, referring to the fact that around 90% of residents aged 12 and over have been jabbed, including 100% of those aged 80-plus.

This said, national health authorities have expressed their 'concerns' about the so-called Omicron strain of the virus and the increase in contagion in certain parts of Spain, mainly the north.

The regions of Navarra and Galicia have recommended limiting the number of people who get together at Christmas and for office parties to a maximum of 10, but no plans are afoot as yet to expand this advice to the country as a whole or to make it compulsory.

Spain's average contagion rate at the moment is 473 per 100,000 inhabitants, or 0.473% of the population, rising to 1,314 per 100,000 or 1.314% in Navarra, 966 or 0.966% in the Basque Country, and 772 or 0.772% of Aragón, making these the regions with the greatest incidence.

It is not clear, though, whether a significant number are symptomatic or not, or whether those hospitalised or who have died had been vaccinated.

Sra Darías says everyone aged 60 to 69 is now being offered a third jab, and health authorities aim to complete these before the end of 2021.

The 50-59 age group is expected to be reached at the beginning of 2022 and the 40-49 age group will come next, although persons in their teens, 20s or 30s have not been mentioned – except for the immune-compromised, healthcare and social care workers, and those who were initially given the AstraZeneca vaccine, or people given the single-dose Janssen injection and since called for a second dose.

Recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced there was sufficient evidence available, according to its own investigations, to show that anyone aged 40 or over would benefit from a third or booster dose.

Spain has mainly only used the AstraZeneca formula in the over-60s, other than very early in the year when it was given to essential workers such as teachers who tended to be in their 30s and 40s.