Steaming ahead to the goal of 85% of the population fully-vaccinated by the end of this month, Portugal has already hit a new moment of history in the country’s mass-vaccination campaign against Covid-19.
85% of the population has received at least one jab – over 77% is now fully-vaccinated.
With the rhythm currently underway, the 85% goal for full-vaccinations is expected to be reached by the end of September – in other words, ‘ahead of the original schedule’ of October 5.
Praising the Herculean efforts of all those involved on his Sunday night slot on SIC television, political commentator Luís Marques Mendes suggested a statue of vice-admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo might be the way of showing the nation’s gratitude for an achievement ‘few would have thought possible’ eight months ago.
Portugal is now the second country in the world with the most inhabitants vaccinated – and the leading country in Europe.
Also talking to SIC television last night was DGS health director Graça Freitas who said every Portuguese citizen should be ‘very proud’ of this achievement.
The immediate benefit is that the country could move – is very likely to move – to the next step in deconfinement: the moment when restaurants are once again able to function freely, and bars and discothques can finally re-open their doors after over a year in which the latter have been totally unable to function, and the activity of the former has been severely curtailed.
The way ahead nonetheless will be measured by certain restrictions – while there is no certainty over how things will develop through the autumn and winter (click here).
