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Copenhagen (AFP) – Denmark will propose a fourth dose of the anticovid vaccine to the most vulnerable people, to try to stop the galloping spread of the omicron variant of the virus, an unprecedented decision in Europe, the government announced on Tuesday.
“The decision to propose a fourth dose to the most vulnerable citizens opens a new chapter” in the fight against the coronavirus, Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told a news conference.
The first people concerned will be those with low immunity, cancer patients and those affected by arthritis, health authorities said.
Thanks to the “ambitious” vaccination campaign, the Nordic country managed to “control the epidemic again,” Heunicke said.
The minister also announced the reopening, as of Sunday, of cinemas, theaters and concert halls, closed since December 19. The maximum capacity allowed will be 500 people.
Bars and restaurants will continue to be forced to close at eleven at night.
The validity of the health pass was reduced from seven months to five after the second dose, which was already injected into 79.6% of the population.
The pass does not have an expiration date after the third dose, which has already been applied to 54.6% of the population.
More than one million of the 5.8 million inhabitants of Denmark have contracted covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.
In early January, authorities estimated that the omicron variant constituted 90% of new cases.
Outside of Europe, Chile and Israel already propose a fourth dose to certain groups of the population.
© 2022 AFP
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