Illa miscalculated; it would be necessary to vaccinate two million a week to reach the goal in September "



I think there has been a lot more noise and confusion than would have been desirable. In practical terms, I consider that the clinical trials and evaluation of the vaccines have finally been rigorous and that is very positive, but the lack of effort in transparent scientific publication and the aspects of delayed prioritization, unsystematic deployment and other aspects that we claimed as important have left much to be desired.

Do you think that the objective of having 70% of the Spanish population vaccinated in summer can be met, as the Ministry of Health promises?

If we want to reach 70% coverage generated by the shield that represents group (or "herd") immunity, so that we interrupt the circulation of the virus, we have to ensure that some 35 million people have received their two doses of vaccine before the end of summer. If we order the weeks and number them, the first dates of September coincide precisely with week number 35. It would be a million people vaccinated per week, but since there are two doses, we need a cruising speed of two million vaccines to inject each week . Minister Salvador Illa made statements stating that a million vaccines would be administered a week and with this he hoped to have 70% of the immunized population in the summer, but as we see he erred in the calculation, because it would take just twice that and to reach that goal in September, never before starting the summer.

What can be done to speed up the vaccination process?

Better planning and organization of the vaccination process should be ensured. We know that it is the responsibility of the National Health System, with the Ministry of Health and the Departments of the Autonomous Communities coordinated through the Interterritorial Council ... Currently there is chaotic diversity in how the different autonomous communities are vaccinating. What apparently fails is to define and, where appropriate, expand who can vaccinate and also the vaccination schedules. You should be vaccinated every day (including weekends and holidays), and it could perfectly be done 16 hours a day. Keep in mind that every day that passes more than 200 people die from the coronavirus, deaths that we could potentially avoid if we expedite vaccination. Existing resources should be detailed to identify what additional help is needed (private health contingency personnel, army, pharmacy services, dentists, veterinarians, etc.).

Are you afraid that vaccines will not reach many developing countries and that this will prevent ending the pandemic?

Exactly. It is a great fear. On the one hand, because of the basic ethics of not abandoning human beings whom I consider brothers, since we belong to the same humanity. On the other, due to a selfish strategy for everyone, because as long as there is no global immunity, we will not tackle the problem.

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