The Minister of Health says the government is holding back the reopening for security reasons. But the most important milestone could be reached in two weeks.
–
– There are still quite a few adults who are not protected through vaccination, and they will be in a very short time. That is why the government, even though on the basis of FHI’s recommendation, could also have chosen to go to step four today, has just chosen to emphasize that security thinking, and that we have such a short time left, says Minister of Health Bent Høie.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said that Norway will be left on step three – the plan is to skip step four, and after step three instead go straight to what is called «a normal everyday life with increased preparedness».
FHI’s recommendation to the government was also that stage four of the reopening could be postponed for a few weeks, until 90 per cent of those over 18 have received a second dose – whose In the current situation, security is desired against a larger increase in infection pressure. This is what the government has emphasized, says Høie.
– You’re holding back a little extra now?
– We are holding back a little extra, precisely in view of the group that in these weeks remains to be fully vaccinated. And it provides greater security in our society, says Høie.
– So you think it will no longer be necessary when these have been vaccinated?
– No, and that is both I and the Prime Minister have said over time it is most likely, and as some think we should not say. But in our opinion, it is important to say that when a sufficient number have been fully vaccinated, it is our best assessment that we can return to a normal everyday life.
– The infection rates will mean less
According to FHI Norway can reach the goal of giving 90 per cent of all people over the age of 18 a second dose as early as the end of next week, or at the beginning of the following week – if as many vaccine doses are given these weeks as last week.
– Do you think that there will be any reason to hold back when you get this far?
– As the Prime Minister said – we are not locked into that number to move on, it will be an overall assessment. But if we get to 90 percent, or close to 90 percent, the knowledge we have now will be the most important factor.
The other thing they mainly follow is the situation in the health service and the infection situation, he says.
– In a situation where those over the age of 18 have been fully vaccinated, the infection rates will mean less in our assessment. Then we will place greater emphasis on who is protected, and then we must look at the total burden on the health service.
Høie also points out that it takes a week from when you take the last bite until you are protected, and emphasizes that people must not stop following advice and measures.
Patients who are hospitalized with coronavirus now is on average younger than before – but most inpatients are non-vaccinated, according to FHI. At the same time, the infection has exploded lately, especially among children and young people – and several municipalities are struggling under the pressure to follow up the TISK work.
– Can the load on the TISK system in itself affect whether you think it is wise to have measures?
– At that time, we probably will not have the same TISK that we have today. This is the process we are starting now: We do not want TISK to require so many resources in a new situation, but that it becomes more targeted, says Høie, referring to the fact that the health authorities and state administrators will now come together to assess changes in TISK.
Will not do as in Denmark
Health director Espen Nakstad has previously said NRK that we are unlikely to achieve herd immunity – that is not certain either that we do even if the government now has given the green light to vaccinate 12–15-year-olds. And although children and adolescents are less likely to become seriously covid-sick, some may still be.
Høie says that the government’s goal is still to have control of the pandemic.
– Then it becomes more a question of how many children can be infected at once, than how many children are infected?
– It is absolutely right. For most children, this is a completely harmless infection, up to 37 percent do not even get symptoms. Those who get symptoms often get mild symptoms, and few also become seriously ill. It is comparable to other infectious diseases that we live with in society today.
– Many people are worried about possible side effects?
– Yes, it is also the case that in the documentation we have from countries where many children have been infected earlier than is the case in Norway, there is very little to suggest that many children have late effects, says Høie, who refers to FHIs faglige vurdering.
In Denmark, covid-19 will no longer be considered a socially critical disease from 10 September, and all restrictions will disappear. Høie says that Norway will not follow the exact same line:
– When they have come so far in the vaccination, they do not consider it a generally dangerous infectious disease. We will probably not have that approach, says Høie.
He says the main reason for this is that there may be mutations that the vaccine does not protect as well against.
– That is why we call what we are going over to an everyday life with increased preparedness, because we will still be in a global pandemic. Then it’s the main X factor. We also believe that achieving such a high degree of vaccination will reduce the risk of unvaccinated people becoming infected – but that does not mean that we have linked it to a goal of herd immunity.
–
