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COVID-19

Denmark’s high Covid-19 numbers continue over Christmas

Denmark recorded its highest ever number of Covid-19 infections in a day on December 26th.

People walking at Vejers Strand on Denmark's west coast on December 26th. Photo: John Randeris/Ritzau Scanpix
People walking at Vejers Strand on Denmark's west coast on December 26th. Photo: John Randeris/Ritzau Scanpix

Sunday saw 14,844 cases registered by the infectious disease agency State Serum Institute (SSI) from 189,840 tests, giving a positivity rate of 7.82 percent.

It should be noted that recent days have seen some delays to test processing, meaning some of yesterday’s total may including positive tests from preceding days.

The total for new infections on December 24th and 25th was 11,229 and 10,027 respectively.

The number of hospitalised patients with the virus increased by 57 to 579. This remains lower than the peak number from the winter 2020 wave, which reached 964 on January 4th this year.

42.4 percent of the population has so far received a booster or “third” Covid-19 vaccination.

“Infections are huge at the moment. This shows that the Omicron variant is dominant and that it is so infectious that we can’t control it,” anaesthesiologist and head of the patients’ organisation Lungeforeningen, Torben Mogensen, told news agency Ritzau.

“The number of hospitalisations is still possible to manage and that’s the most important thing. I’m therefore not worried about our health system collapsing,” Mogensen also said.

Vaccination can be thanked for the lower number of seriously ill and hospitalised patients, he said.

The 24th and 25th of December both saw a drop in the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19, by 32 and 16 respectively, before the figure increased again on Sunday.

Mogensen said he expects infection numbers to continue increasing into the new year.

“We will probably all be infected at some point. The whole purpose (of measures) is to delay the speed this happens so that the health service doesn’t break down,” he said.

The senior medic also said he did not see any need to introduce additional restrictions such as public assembly limits prior to New Year’s Eve.

READ ALSO: Travellers returning to Denmark after Christmas must take Covid-19 test

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COVID-19

Who should get vaccinated against Covid and flu in Denmark and when?

It is still free to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Denmark if you are over the age of 65 or have a health condition, with the health authorities now running Covid and flu vaccinations together. Here's what you need to know.

Who should get vaccinated against Covid and flu in Denmark and when?

Who is being offered a vaccine for Covid-19 or flu this autumn? 

According to the information on the Danish Health Authority’s website, Covid-19 and flu vaccines are being offered to: 

  • People over the age of 65
  • People under the age of 65 who have a health condition which puts them at increased risk. You can find a list of the long-term health conditions deemed a risk here
  • Pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester

Children between 2 and 6 years of age are being offered a special flu vaccine for children, which is administered as a nose spray, but not the Covid vaccine (unless they fit one of the categories above). 

Those who have retired early, for whatever reason, are also being offered the flu vaccine but not a Covid-19 vaccine.  

People over the age of 65 and the parents of children between the ages of 2 and 6 will automatically receive an invitation to get vaccinated though their digital postbox at borger.dk, e-Boks and mit.dk.

People in the other eligible categories will not receive an invitation. 

If you have not yet received an invitation, do not worry, as invitations are being staggered over October and the start of November.  

READ ALSO: 

When and where can I get vaccinated? 

This year’s autumn vaccination campaign started on October 1st and will continue until January 15th. 

You can get vaccinated at one of over 50 regional vaccination sites all over Denmark, or at the over 280 local pharmacies which are signed up to be part of the programme. 

Residents of care homes for the elderly and others in need will be offered vaccinated at their home.

You can log in and book an appointment at your nearest centre or pharmacy at Denmark’s official vaccination website www.vacciner.dk.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against both flu and Covid-19 at the same time? 

The Danish Health Authority has judged that it is safe to receive vaccines against both flu and Covid-19 at the same time, but the two vaccines cannot be mixed in the same syringe, so you will receive two separate injections. 

Is vaccination compulsory? 

No. Although the strongly recommends everyone in the various risk categories to get vaccinated, it is up to every individual whether to do so. 

Is it possible to get vaccinated even if I am not over 65 or in a risk group? 

It is no longer possible to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or flu through Denmark’s national vaccination programme if you are not in one of the recommended categories, after the country’s health authorities stopped offering paid vaccinations.  

But it remains possible to get vaccinated at a private vaccination centre, such as the SikkerRejse chain found in most Danish towns. The chain, which has a waiting list, offers doses of the latest Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine for a total price of 995 kroner. 

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