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COVID-19

Denmark has ‘no plans’ to delay return to schools despite Covid-19 cases

Denmark’s schools are scheduled to return from the Christmas break on January 5th, having switched to online classes just before the end of the autumn term in response to soaring Covid-19 infection rates.

Danish schools and education minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil at an earlier briefing. Denmark does not currently plan to delay the return of schools on January 5th.
Danish schools and education minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil at an earlier briefing. Denmark does not currently plan to delay the return of schools on January 5th. Photo: Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix

There are no current plans to change this despite continued high infection numbers during the Christmas holidays, schools minister Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil told newspaper Jyllands-Posten on Tuesday.

“We are, of course, following developments closely and listening to the health authorities, but so far infection numbers, hospitalisations and vaccination rates have not deviated from what we projected before Christmas,” Rosenkrantz-Theil said.

“Therefore, that remains the decision we are looking at,” she added.

The minister did however not that there were no “set in stone” guarantees on whether the plan could be changed.

Schools switched to online classes for the final few days before Christmas on December 15th as part of measures to reduce transmissions of Covid-19.

The national infectious disease agency State Serum Institute (SSI) earlier this week called for children in the 5-11-year age group to be vaccinated.

More vaccinations will improve the chances of schools remaining open throughout the winter, the authority said.

Data from the agency on Tuesday showed that 39.5 percent of 5-11-year-olds have received their first dose of the vaccine, while 12,817 or 3.0 percent are fully vaccinated.

The union for teachers, Dansk Lærerforening, earlier told broadcaster DR that it preferred more vaccinations if schools are to be kept open.

READ ALSO: Denmark to give Covid-19 vaccination to children aged 5 to 11

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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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