Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Spain will focus on over-80s in second phase

More than a million people in the country have already been given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with more than 15,000 of those having got two doses.

The over-80s will be the next group in Spain to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, Spain’s Health Minister Salvador Illa announced on Wednesday. The first phase, which began at the end of December, is currently immunizing residents of senior homes, their carers, health workers and adults with dependency. When this is complete, and assuming the vaccines arrive at the expected rate, the campaign will move on to the next phase, most likely in March.

The over-80s are the most vulnerable group when it comes to the coronavirus, and account for nearly 67% of all official Covid deaths in Spain despite making up just 6% of the population (2.8 million people).

The decision to focus on this group next was reached by the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS), which brings together the central Health Ministry and the country’s regional health departments.