Ernst Kuipers urges The Hague to accelerate: ‘Give more people first shot’ | Inland

The bed planner enviously looks at the United Kingdom where the population is now being vaccinated at breakneck speed and the infection figures have plunged into a nosedive.

While the Netherlands deals with risk groups and keeps vaccines on hand for the second shot, the British are giving as many residents as possible a first ‘jab’. In total, approximately 2 million injections have been taken in the Netherlands. Half a million Dutch people have had two injections. “That must be faster,” says Kuipers.

Wait longer

He believes it is important that people have at least a first shot, so that they have some form of protection. As far as he is concerned, people may need to wait longer for the second shot so that those doses can be used to give others a first shot. According to Kuipers, this would not be a problem. The first vaccine ‘protects strongly’.

“You have to vaccinate”

“You have to keep vaccinating. Vaccination is the way to get rid of this and watch the numbers go down. We have a stock of about two weeks. It must be possible to reduce it. That will really help ”, says the bed planner.

Relax irresponsibly

Relaxing corona measures would be irresponsible. It’s still all hands on deck, the bed doctor says. The number of corona patients is still increasing at both the ic (+27) and the clinics (+167). In total there are now 638 patients on the ic; There are 1,555 corona patients in the clinics.

Daydreaming about relaxation is therefore pointless, the warning sounds. Space is simply ‘very limited’, says Kuipers. “The numbers are also expected to rise further. If you relax, the figures will rise even further. ”

Curfew

The corona measures help, Kuipers sees. The bed manager is now questioning the curfew. “There is little support, but compliance is high, while effectiveness is limited. If you look at measures that are evidently effective, such as staying at home in case of complaints and testing, then half of the people stay at home and one in three can be tested. If you can do something about it, you will achieve much more. ”

“Large numbers of vaccines are becoming available. They really have a protective effect”

Kuipers can now see light at the end of the tunnel. The Netherlands can prepare for a ‘relatively’ normal summer. “Giving certainty is difficult. But I have strong hopes. I think we can really count on that. We saw last year that we could afford a lot in the summer – without vaccination. Large numbers of vaccines are becoming available. They really have a protective effect. Add those two things together. Then I dare to say: it will really be different. ”

Although we will not be rid of the virus after the summer, he warns. “It can come back like a bouncing ball in the autumn. Not everyone is vaccinated. Certainly not on a global scale. New mutations will emerge. Keep in mind that the virus will be among us for a long time to come. ”

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