Vaccinations for over-18s to begin on July 4

Vaccinations against Covid-19 for citizens in Portugal over the age of 18 will begin on July 4. Talking to the parliamentary health commission today, vaccine task force coordinator Henrique Gouveia e Melo said that “in two weeks time, we will have all age groups undergoing the process of vaccination”. In spite of warnings that ‘herd immunity’ cannot be reached at the point where 70% of the population has been vaccinated, the vice-admiral said the plan is to continue into September when 90% of the population should have received their first dose of vaccines, and 70% their full quota. Then it will be a matter for health authorities to decide the next course of action. Booster shots ‘not being part of the emergency’, he stressed. “Right now we are still in an emergency, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel…”