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COVID-19

Denmark to introduce ‘digital passport’ to document Covid-19 vaccination

The Danish government has announced it is to introduce a so-called ‘digital corona passport' which can be used to document vaccination.

Denmark to introduce 'digital passport' to document Covid-19 vaccination
Acting finance minister Morten Bødskov. Photo:Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix

The exact practical applications of the digital documentation are still under consideration, but its primary purpose is to facilitate a reopening of society.

“We are taking the first steps so that, before the end of February, you will be able to see your vaccination on (online health services platform) Sundhed.dk,” acting finance minister Morten Bødskov said.

“In three to four months, the digital corona passport will be ready for use for things like business trips,” Bødskov added.

The government and business representatives will decide on the exact applications of the vaccination ‘passport’ once it has been fully realised, depending on the situation with the coronavirus at that time, the minister said.

“It will be an extra pass you can have on your mobile phone which documents you have been vaccinated,” he said.

“This is about us, as a country, exploiting the technical advantages we have. We can be amongst the first in the world to have this and show it to the rest of the world,” he said.

The digital certification will provide “extra assurance” once Denmark emerges from lockdown, according to the minister.

Interest organisations for Danish businesses have previously gone on record to advocate the need for easily accessible proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

“By using the digital head start we have, we can allow travel and participation in cultural life in Denmark. We will benefit from the corona passport for many years,” said Lars Sandahl Sørensen, CEO of the Confederation Danish Industry.

READ ALSO: Denmark to roll out Covid-19 'vaccine passport'

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COVID-19

Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

Sweden's Public Health Agency is recommending that those above the age of 80 should receive two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn, as it shifts towards a longer-term strategy for the virus.

Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

In a new recommendation, the agency said that those living in elderly care centres, and those above the age of 80 should from March 1st receive two vaccinations a year, with a six month gap between doses. 

“Elderly people develop a somewhat worse immune defence after vaccination and immunity wanes faster than among young and healthy people,” the agency said. “That means that elderly people have a greater need of booster doses than younger ones. The Swedish Public Health Agency considers, based on the current knowledge, that it will be important even going into the future to have booster doses for the elderly and people in risk groups.” 

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People between the ages of 65 and 79 years old and young people with risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, poor kidney function or high blood pressure, are recommended to take one additional dose per year.

The new vaccination recommendation, which will start to apply from March 1st next year, is only for 2023, Johanna Rubin, the investigator in the agency’s vaccination programme unit, explained. 

She said too much was still unclear about how long protection from vaccination lasted to institute a permanent programme.

“This recommendation applies to 2023. There is not really an abundance of data on how long protection lasts after a booster dose, of course, but this is what we can say for now,” she told the TT newswire. 

It was likely, however, that elderly people would end up being given an annual dose to protect them from any new variants, as has long been the case with influenza.

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