ARCHIVED - Spain set to reach 70 per cent vaccination but herd immunity remains elusive

32.5 million people in Spain have already received both Covid vaccine doses

During the week beginning August 30 the proportion of the population of Spain to have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 is practically certain to reach 70 per cent, the level originally targeted in order for herd immunity against the pandemic to be achieved.

At the start of the immunization campaign it seemed highly unlikely that the aim of reaching 70 be cent by the end of the summer could be reached. The process was dogged by a series of setbacks including delays in the delivery of vaccine doses and the worries over the safety of the products approved in Spain and the EU, particularly the AstraZeneca vaccine. After a slow start, though, these hurdles have been overcome and the forecasts of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that the target could be met in late August or early September have been vindicated.

Critics can point to the fact that on one occasion he appeared to indicate August 18 as the most likely date for the milestone to be reached, but although this passed almost a fortnight ago the delay has been minimal.

In addition, six of the country’s 17 regions have already exceeded 70 per cent (Asturias, Galicia, Estraeamdura, Castilla y León, the Basque Country and Aragón) and with a total of almost 32.5 million (68.4 per cent of the population) having been fully vaccinated by the time of the publication of the latest government update on Friday August 27, the campaign can claim a high degree of success.

Among over 80s the entire population has been fully vaccinated, while the equivalent percentages reach 98.4 per cent in those in their 70s, 95.2 per cent for those in their 60s, 91.2 per cent for those in their 50s and 83 per cent for those in their 40s.

In younger age groups the figures are lower, but they have been included in the campaign more recently and the numbers to have received at least one dose suggest that similar figures will be reached during the autumn.

The problem, of course, is that since the vaccination campaign began at the turn of the year the bar has been raised, due largely to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19. This strain can be transmitted even to those who have been vaccinated (although far fewer cases become serious), and many experts estimate that for herd immunity to be achieved it will now be necessary to immunize at least 90 per cent of the population.

Image: @AsturSalud