Friday 2 July will be an anniversary for Sarpsborg. Then everyone over the age of 18 who has agreed to the vaccine has received the first dose.
– I remember when we put the very first dose in space Christmas. It is completely unreal that we have now come this far, says mayor of Sarpsborg, Sindre Martinsen-Evje.
– FIRST: Mayor of Sarpsborg, Sindre Martinsen-Evje to the place at the very first vaccination in the municipality. Photo: Truls Aagedal / TV 2
–
Along with a high degree of vaccination, low infection rates follow. For the past five weeks, there has been one case of infection a day in the municipality.
– It has been a very tough six months. But people have really done what they can to get the vaccination going fast. There are many volunteers to thank.
The municipality is planning a marking at the vaccination center in the municipality. Then, among other things, the sanitation women will receive an extra thank you.
2500 doses left over
The municipality is now working to use as many vaccine doses as possible. Over the next two weeks, everyone who has previously said no to the vaccine will have the opportunity to take a residual dose.
– There can be various reasons why you have previously said no. The most important thing now is that everyone knows that it is possible to change their mind. There are several available doses that we hope we can use.
The vaccines have a limited shelf life. It is also not possible for Sarpsborg to tighten the vaccine interval, so that they can give dose two even faster.
Therefore, the municipality now distributes the remaining doses.
Over the next few weeks, we will be giving away around 2,500 doses to other municipalities. The goal is that we will not have to throw anyone away. It does not look like we will have to do that either.
Sarpsborg was also to receive 7,500 doses in weeks 27 and 28. By agreement with FHI, these are now given to other municipalities.
Corona certificate essential
The municipality was long excited about how many people would accept the vaccine. Martinsen-Evje highlights the period after the AstraZeneca vaccine was withdrawn from the vaccination program, as a time when the municipality feared many hesitants.
But the Sarpings did not allow themselves to be influenced. The vaccination rate for the municipality currently seems to end at around 90 per cent.
Sarpsborg’s head of health, Øivind Johansen, highlights national decisions as crucial.
– That so many have been vaccinated is surprising considering what we thought a few months ago. But considering the corona certificate, and the relief that has come, it is really understandable.
Do the most yourself
Johansen says that support among the elderly has been over 90 percent, while the younger ones have been slightly less. There is generally no group that stands out as vaccinators.
– Health manager in Sarpsborg, Øivind Johansen, points out simple information as one of the main reasons why the municipality seems to have a high vaccination rate. Photo: Truls Aagedal / TV 2
–
– The support among the immigrant population was a little less at the very beginning. But we worked early on to provide targeted information to this group, and here too the vaccination rate has really picked up.
According to Johansen, the key to Sarpsborg is easily accessible information. Sarpsborg has also sent out SMS to all residents with a vaccination class, so that residents do not have to register on their own.
– The need for information is great. It must be easily accessible both nationally and locally. In relation to vaccination, we also think it is wise for the municipality to do as much as possible itself on behalf of the inhabitants.
–
