On Tuesday 26 January, Luxembourg has vaccinated 8,280 people, of which 1,245 have received their second dose. According to calculations by our colleagues at RTL 5minutes, and without taking into account the fact that some people already vaccinated are cross-border workers but employed in the health sector in Luxembourg, approximately 1.32% of the population has been vaccinated today.
With this vaccination rate, Luxembourg is currently lagging behind its European neighbours. Germany is approaching 2% of its entire population, France and Belgium are around 1.8%.
On Monday evening, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Health Paulette Lenert reiterated their preference for guaranteeing the second dose. “Some countries have already used up their doses and are not sure they can give the second to the first people vaccinated within the allotted time. This is why Luxembourg is not well ranked, but we are maintaining our strategy” said Xavier Bettel. Luxembourg therefore chooses not to enter the numbers race and prefers to ensure that it has a sufficient stock of vaccine.
France on Tuesday ruled out the extension of the injection time between both doses. Minister of Health Olivier Véran, in spite of opposing opinions by health authorities, underlined that the deadline of “three to four weeks” would be maintained, raather than extending it to six weeks.
Following the first phase, underway and reserved for employees in the health sector, the second phase will focus on vaccinating all people aged 75 and over. “At the same time, highly vulnerable residents, without age restrictions, will also be eligible for vaccination,” the health ministry said.
Read also: Disabled people to be vaccinated at the end of the first phase
On Tuesday, MP Marc Hansen (Déi Gréng) said he felt that too much false information was circulating about vaccination. In fact, only a third of those contacted made an appointment. But according to Hansen these figures should be put into perspective, because the willingness seems to be there all the same. There could have been technical difficulties, Hansen suggested.
A third phase has not yet been defined. The government simply specified that the campaign will be expanded once more vaccines are available. Vaccination centres have been selected by the government, but they will also not open prior to that moment.
