The new head of the task force for immunization against COVID-19 in Portugal will begin work on Thursday, a day after the resignation of his predecessor due to out-of-shift vaccination scandals and frustration at the slow progress of the program, as it happens in other countries of the European Union.
At the current rate, with an average of just over 10,000 doses administered daily, Portugal will reach its goal of immunizing 70% of its adult population by 2023. The goal was to achieve this by late summer by inoculating around 50,000 people a day.
Portuguese authorities noted that they have received fewer vaccines than promised by manufacturers, noting that the authorization of new vaccines by the EU will help speed up the program.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, an EU agency, said in its weekly report published Thursday that Portugal received almost 387,000 doses. The country of 10.3 million people has administered 310,000, or about 80% of that figure, the seventh highest rate among the 27 EU partners, he added.
The rebound of the pandemic in January left Portugal as one of the most affected countries in the world by population size, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The vaccination plan has generated hope in the midst of a long confinement.
–
