Once again, Spaniards are flocking to injection sites to be vaccinated. Limiting the options for unvaccinated people in Spain and the booster shot are the main factors why there is an increase in vaccination coverage once again.
In large cities, such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, there was much more enthusiasm for a corona vaccine last week. Whereas, vaccination went a lot less quickly after the summer. However, various factors contribute to this. One such factor was in mid-November when it was announced more autonomous regional authorities were considering introducing the covid passport. Undoubtedly, this has contributed to the increased vaccination coverage in Spain.
Spanish regional authorities are looking at the right strategy to reach vaccine refusers. So far, six Spanish regions have adopted a strategy for catering establishments to ask their guests to show a covid passport with a valid QR code. At the time of writing, this applies in Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Galicia, Murcia, and Navarre. Furthermore, other regional authorities also want this but are awaiting judicial agreement to implement this.
The government of Spain is leaving this to the regional authorities for the time being and will continue to stick to the strategy of face masks and vaccination.
Doubting Spaniards still opt for vaccination
Spaniards would also like to visit family or on holiday in the run-up to Christmas in the coming weeks. For travelling between some Spanish regions and outside of Spain, a valid QR code must be presented. The Spanish news site RTVE.es interviewed Spaniards who do not agree with this form of indirect coercion. Nevertheless, they ultimately opted for vaccination because it would give them access to facilities, go on holiday and celebrate Christmas with family.
Booster shot in Spain gets underway
Finally, Spain recently announced that it would invite people for the booster shot. The people who are the first to receive this booster shot are people over 60, people working in care, detainees, people with disabilities in care centres, and people who previously received one dose of Janssen.
Covid passport restrictions ensure higher vaccination coverage
All these factors are the main reasons it has become busier again at injection locations. This is especially true in the large cities in Spain. Last week, no less than 25% more shots were taken than in the weeks before. After the EMA‘s permission to vaccinate children between the ages of 5 and 11, it could become even busier at the injection sites in the coming weeks. The Ministry of Health has not yet made a decision about vaccinating this young target group.
According to Ministry data, a total of 89.2% of people in Spain have received a full dose. 90% of Spaniards have received at least one shot.
