Catalonia might begin vaccinations in late January

The Catalan public health secretary, Josep Maria Argimon, said on Monday that Catalonia might begin vaccinating its residents in late January 2021.

Following the announcement of Spain's president, Pedro Sánchez, of a vaccine plan with 13,000 administration points, Argimon stated that if all clinical trials progress as expected, around 350,000 doses of the Pfizer jab would be available in Catalonia from late January.

He reminded that this vaccine needs two doses to be effective, meaning that the first ones available will cover 175,000 people, who will be vaccinated again 28 days later, from late February.

Immunity is developed around two weeks after the second dose, so the first Catalan residents vaccinated would be protected from Covid-19 around mid-March.

Argimon said that ideally, 70% of the population should be vaccinated, but he reckons that this will not happen until end of 2021.

Who would be vaccinated first

The first ones to be administered the doses will be the at-risk groups, like those living in care homes for elderly people and its employees.

The second top priority will be health workers in primary care and hospitals in direct contact with the virus, and afterwards not in direct contact.

Argimon admitted that those who have already gone through the pandemic will be given their doses later if there is no stock for everyone, but he also made clear they will not be excluded from the scheme.

In an interview with RAC1 radio station, he sided against the implementation of a Covid-19 immunity card and also against an obligation to be administered the jab.