Children´s Vaccinations Set For Next Week Amid Cases Surge
The latest official figures from the Spanish Ministry of Health, released yesterday, Thursday 9 December, shows a rise of 15 points to 305.57 per 100,000 inhabitants in the number of Covid-19 cases.
This is an increase of 26,412 on the previous figures from Tuesday 7th December, of which some 6,808 were registered in the previous 24 hours.
The figures show wide regional variations, with Madrid´s 181.49 per 100,000 significantly below the national average and far below the 956 reported in the worst hit region of Navarra.
The breakdown by age group per 100,000 of population is as follows:
- Aged 11 and under – 533.30
- 12-19 years – 173.43
- 20-29 years – 248.81
- 30-39 years – 325.63
- 40-49 years – 380.85
- 50-59 years – 279.50
- 60-69 years – 323.23
- 70-79 years – 194.24
- Aged 80 and over – 138.11
Madrid’s regional premier, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, had earlier announced that all 5 to 11 year olds will begin receiving their vaccinations from December 15th.
Despite the spike in infections, Ayuso dismissed any suggestions of further lockdowns being imposed saying that: “ Rather than going back to closures and lockdowns, what we’re going to do is avoid confusion and be proactive.”
The Spanish Ministry of Health´s Vaccination Committee and the Public Health Commission have stated that the children´s vaccination programme will be based on doses of a third of the strength of adult ones.
The European Medicines Agency recently approved the use of a lighter Pfizer vaccine for children in this age group.
Spain’s Health Minister Carolina Darias, announced that the first batch of Covid vaccine for the under 12s will be ready for rollout next week, of which 200,000 doses will be in Madrid on Monday 13th December.
In addition the Madrid regional health authorities have confirmed that it has purchased 4 million antigen tests which will be made available in 3,000 pharmacies from December 15th.
Residents will have to show their Madrid regional health card at the pharmacy to get their free test.
Despite the surge the increase in hospital admisions has seen a less dramatic rise. There are currently 5,479 people hospitalised, representing a 4.41% occupation of available beds, of which 1,041 are in intensive care.
To date there have been 5,273,178 Covid-19 cases reported in Spain, of which 88,321 have been fatal.
