Vice Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, head of Portugal’s Covid-19 working group, said Portugal “has already beaten this virus”.
“We have already won against this virus, at least the first battle is won and this is a great relief for all of us,” Vice Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo told Viseu today.
He told reporters that the battle is won, “because the incidence is declining despite the state of mistrust” in which the country finds itself, after the holiday period and due to the presence of foreigners.
“The vaccination process overcame the virus and now we must begin to learn to regain our freedom and our lives. This is what we must do, of course, with some care. We have to be smart, we can’t be neglected either “, he warned.
With the vaccination rate reaching “almost 86% with the first doses” and “usually a month later the same is achieved in terms of second dose or complete vaccination,” the vice admiral said he was pleased with the result.
“The vaccination process has helped us a lot in this and we are really satisfied, as a community, we should be really satisfied with ourselves, because it was a small denial rate that led us to this process, with this huge rate. of complete vaccination. ”, he emphasized.
Vice Admiral Gouveia e Melo also downplayed the fact that Portugal is the first country in the world in terms of vaccination coverage rate, saying that this does not concern him, as his concern “is whether this rate is sufficient to provide protection. and, finally, to group immunity ”.
“I’m sure he will, but only the future will tell, but if we achieve this group immunity or at least group protection, it is excellent news for our country and for our lives, from d ‘now,’ he defended.
The official also said that “the vaccination of young people aged 12 to 19 was exceeded by more than 85 per cent.”
The vice-admiral explained that “it’s a lot, because there are 5 or 6 percent who are still recovering from Covid-19 and can’t be vaccinated.”