The Catalan health ministry reported on Thursday that, so far in this month of August, as many as 10% of those people booked in for their second coronavirus vaccine dose have not turned up to the appointment they had scheduled, instead prioritizing their holiday agenda. Ten per cent means many tens of thousands of people, mostly young people between the ages of 20 and 40, the age group whose fully vaccinated proportion is proving most difficult to push past the 50% mark. The fact that the indicators on the fifth wave of the virus have improved substantially is another of the reasons hypothesized by the department to try and explain the easing off that is taking place.
Simultaneously with this news, a study by the Grup Col·laboratiu Multidisciplinari per al Seguiment Científic de la Covid-19, made up of independent Catalan doctors and researchers, has raised the necessary target for group immunity to 85% of the vaccinated population, substantially more than the 70% figure that had been previously set. That is why vaccination has begun for everyone from age 12 upwards, and is also the reason that it is necessary to strengthen all age groups under 40. In the 30-34 age group, the percentage of people who are fully vaccinated does not reach 30% and for those under the age of 20 it is 20%.
In this context, the concern of the health authorities is normal, because in the previous waves two patterns of behaviour were seen when the level of health alarm and restrictions have been lowered: the relaxation of the public firstly, and the arrival of a new wave, afterwards. No one knows for sure whether or not there will be a sixth wave, but it is clear that a massive vaccination going beyond the current 60% range and approaching 80% will lead us to a calmer autumn and winter.
With all this, it remain highly irresponsible that those who have an appointment made do not even go to the medical centre which they have selected when making their booking, because it could also put at risk the period between the first and second dose. It is also a gesture showing a lack of solidarity and a selfishness that is hard to understand. With a month to go before the start of the school year, we need to make a final consciousness-raising effort for all those who think that with the level of population that is vaccinated, it won't matter if they skip out.
A certain reinfection of people already vaccinated is being seen, still in very small percentages, but the delta variant of the fifth wave is more resistant than the previous ones. The concern to increase the percentage of the population that is vaccinated is not exclusively Catalan. Chancellor Merkel has decided to treat vaccinated Germans differently - currently, only 55% have both shots - from those who are not. Thus, the German government will stop paying for coronavirus tests to people who are not vaccinated and they will only be free for those who do have their full dose. It will also require the public to present a negative antigen or PCR test result in order to enter certain public spaces.
The struggle going on everywhere is identical: vaccinate, vaccinate and vaccinate.