More than 35 million Spanish citizens have now been fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.
Despite a slow down during August in the number of people being vaccinated, September has once again seen a steady rise and as a result, 74.7% of citizens have now been fully vaccinated.
In addition, 37,216,507 people or 78.4% of the population have now received at least one vaccination dose.
The recent vaccination numbers show that the government has now surpassed its original target of vaccinating 70% of the population, a figure believed to be required to obtain the coveted 'herd immunity’.
However, health officials now believe that this figure will need to be adjusted to at least 90%.
Furthermore, in order to hit this new target, those under the age of 12 would need to be vaccinated, a demographic that accounts for 11% of the Spanish population.
Many of the fifth wave infections are thought to have occurred within the 12-19 age group, a group that the government has been targeting intensely in recent weeks. Latest figures show that 58.4% of those within this group have now been fully immunised. This compares to 45.4% just seven days ago.
Regional health services have doubled down on their efforts to vaccinate this group and it is Asturias that is leading the way with 70.2%. Navarra has fully vaccinated 69.2% of this group with Murcia on 67.9%. Cantabria is lagging way behind all the other regions with only 28.9% fully immunised.
Figures published on Monday by the ministry show that around 90% of those over the age of 50 have now been fully jabbed, with 100% of those in the most vulnerable group, over the age of 80 having received the full dose.
Number of people vaccinated by age group
80+: 100% - 2,896 people
70-79: 98.6% - 3,905,620 people
60-69: 96.5% - 5,151,937 people
50-59: 92.9% - 6,537,358 people
40-49: 85.0% - 6,708,503 people
30-39: 71.2% - 4,436,173 people
20-29: 68.6% - 3,393,372 people
12-19: 58.4% - 2,271,101 people
Hospitalisations and cases continue to fall
The latest figures show that the number of registered Covid cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14-days now stands at 116. This is way below the high-risk threshold of 250.
Melilla is the only region still considered to be in the high-risk range with 312 cases per 100,000.
This compares to the figure of 176 per 100,000 at the same time last week and shows the positive impact the country’s vaccination campaign has had in driving down the numbers.
Cases per 100,000 by region
Of course, the pandemic has placed enormous strain on the country’s hospitals, however, Monday’s data shows that the numbers have been steadily falling in recent weeks.
There are currently 4,652 people in hospital receiving treatment for Covid. This is in contrast to 5,776 at the same time last week.
1,172 people are in intensive care, down from 1,382 last week.
It comes as Spain’s Minister for Health, Carolina Darias (pictured) confirmed last week that a third booster vaccination would be available for those with weakened immunity. It was later confirmed on Tuesday that the country’s health commission had approved the move.
The commission said the booster jab would be administered 28 days after the previous jab had been given and would be the same brand.
The most likely candidates of the booster would be those who are considered to be immunosuppressed including those who had previously received an organ transplant and those taking anti-CD20 drugs.
Source
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/documentos/Actualizacion_461_COVID-19.pdf
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/documentos/Actualizacion_456_COVID-19.pdf
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/documentos/Informe_GIV_comunicacion_20210913.pdf
Image Credit: Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa