Work to combat a safe and effective relative against the new coronavirus is continuing in laboratories around the world, and work appears to be progressing faster than expected, even recently.
However, some have wondered about the safety of such a rapidly developed vaccine. At the same time, some are also wondering if jab could be made mandatory.
Not at least in Finland, according to the chief of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Sari Ekholm.
“No, I don’t see mandatory vaccinations coming here,” he said.
Although some Finnish legislation covers the subject of compulsory vaccination, according to Ekholm, it cannot be applied to a coronavirus epidemic.
However, he said that in certain cases, vaccinations could be made mandatory if, for example, a bioterror attack resulted in a much more deadly disease than smallpox.
Compete for jabi
Efforts are being made to create a coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible around the world, and it is hoped that one could be developed by the end of the year.
Ekholm said that in particular, one vaccine developed by the Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is one of the pioneers, and the EU Commission has already booked its delivery when it is ready.
At the same time, Finland’s efforts to create a vaccine are lagging behind international ones, he explained.
Who gets it first?
Another question for many is who will first get access to coronavirus vaccination. If previous procedures are followed, according to Ekholm, these are healthcare workers.
“They are at the highest risk of contracting the virus, and these professionals are needed to keep health care running,” he said.
Coronavirus resistance then emerges in others, largely depending on which groups the vaccine has proven to be both effective and safe.
“We are awaiting marketing authorization. The first vaccinations can be done early next year. It all depends on the ongoing research,” Ekholm said.
About 70 percent of Finns are interested in receiving coronavirus vaccinations, according to a survey conducted by THL last month.
Source: The Nordic Page
