An absolute condition of using a corona vaccine is that it is safe, says Minister Hugo de Jonge (Public Health) during the press conference on Tuesday. “People are concerned whether it is going too fast. We do not make any concessions to testing and review. If it is not safe or effective, we will not do it.”
“The newspapers were full of encouraging reports about vaccines, which are getting closer,” says de Jonge. Agreements have been made with six developers, but the vaccine can only be used if it appears that it is not only effective, but also safe.
The vaccines are tested by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and that takes time, says De Jonge.
Once the vaccines have passed the testing phases and have been found to be safe and effective, the government expects the first vaccinations to take place in the first months of 2021.
Preparation for ‘major logistics operation’ already underway
That vaccination will be a “major logistical operation”, says De Jonge. Behind the scenes, preparations are being made to ensure that this runs smoothly. Among other things, the Health Council is awaiting an advisory report on which population groups should receive priority when vaccinating.
According to De Jonge, the roll-out of the vaccine is “the best route to the old normal”. In the long term, the fight against the coronavirus consists of the vaccine, in combination with more and better tests and better medicines. “As long as all of this does not work sufficiently, measures such as 1.5 meters will be maintained.”
Vaccination not mandatory, but the importance of vaccination is emphasized
The corona vaccine will not be mandatory, De Jonge emphasized again on Tuesday. “But you will hear us every day of the week about how important it is, because it is the most effective method of defeating the virus. Therefore, it is wise to choose the vaccine, which we will be transferring.”
To build up herd immunity, it is necessary that at least 70 percent of the population is vaccinated. The minister said he did not want to think in terms of privileges for people who get vaccinated.
“But if you have vaccinated part of society, you may wonder whether that 1.5 meters is still necessary. A phase will arise when different rules apply to part of society than to others.”
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