Figures published by the Ministry of Health indicated that 6,897 people were vaccinated in the Grand Duchy as of 21 January. Some of these people were counted a second time after receiving their second jab.
Since 28 December authorities gradually announced the evolution of Luxembourg's vaccination campaign. On 18 January the ministry reported in its daily bulletin that it had inoculated 367 people with 'dose 1' and 447 people with 'dose 2' for a total of 4,569 'people vaccinated' (compared to 3,755 people the day before). To reach that specific number one would have to add all 'dose 1' and 'dose 2' vaccinations. In short, those who received their second dose on 18 January were counted a second time.
The following day, on 19 January, authorities announced 377 injections of "dose 1" and 348 injections of "dose 2" for a total of 5,294 "people vaccinated". The same was done for Wednesday.
It was only in its bulletin of Friday, 22 January, containing the data for Thursday, that the government realised the error and finally changed its vaccination report. The term 'number of people vaccinated per site' has been replaced by 'number of doses administered per site'. This new figure does not indicate how many people benefit from the 95% protection announced by Pfizer/BioNTech.
According to calculations made by RTL 5minutes, 1,244 people received a second dose of the vaccine between 18-20 January. As of 21 January, the total number of doses administered amounted to 6,897 injections, for 5,654 people actually vaccinated.
Leaving aside cross-border workers employed in the medical sector but vaccinated in Luxembourg, these 5,654 people, of whom 1,244 received two injections, represent approximately 0.90% of the Luxembourg population.
Luxembourg is not the only one to have changed its public communication of vaccination. In France for example, the government is now talking about the number of total injections carried out, thus mixing the first and second dose.
Contacted by RTL 5minutes, the Ministry of Health confirms that the number communicated each evening now corresponds to the number of doses administered. A new presentation of vaccination figures is being studied to make it clearer.
