Portuguese experts emphasise efficacy of vaccination, containment measures

Lisbon, Dec 1 (IANS) The recent spike in Covid-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths has prompted the authorities in Portugal to announce a return to the "state of calamity" on December 1. The new measures include intensified health checks at the country's borders and the reinforcement of the vaccination campaign.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, infectious disease specialist Jose Pocas, Director at the Hospital de Sao Bernardo in Setubal, said that the pandemic situation in Portugal is "very uncertain."

"There is a rapid rise in new cases, especially ones caused by the new (Omicron) variant of the virus, and there is a possibility that further mutations remain to be discovered."

However, Portugal is in a "privileged situation" because the levels of vaccine acceptance are high even in comparison to the other, more developed countries of Europe, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Pocas, vaccine refusal is practically non-existent in Portugal, which makes it a "model for other countries," and leaves the population "more protected against new strains" of the virus.

"The Covid-19 situation in each country mirrors the level of vaccine acceptance there. In other words, countries where more than 25 per cent of the population are not immunised are bound to experience more severe cases, and higher transmission and mortality rates," he said.

According to Pocas, the cases of the new Omicron variant were detected in Portugal among members of a professional football club, and the isolation of those infected could control the outbreak.

"Portugal is doing what is needed: border control, cancellation of flights to countries with more serious situations, and internal health protection measures," he added.

"The measures adopted by Portugal have already proven effective, but it will never be possible to completely prevent the spread of the disease. Even those who are vaccinated are not completely protected, but it is better to vaccinate people to prevent an exponential growth in infections."

According to him, to be successful in controlling Covid-19, it is necessary to detect those infected as early as possible, be very assertive in identifying the strain, and isolate the possible contacts of the infected.

"We must not panic, but we must be alert and be very active. Each citizen must comply with the measures in force, which are easy to do," he said.

Margarida Tavares, infectious diseases specialist at the Hospital S. Joao in the city of Porto, considers most of the measures implemented by the government "adequate." These include the mandatory use of face masks and the wider use of the vaccination certificate.

However, she believes it is necessary to be cautious because the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test "may indicate as positive past infections that are no longer contagious."

Tavares also supports the reinforcement of the vaccination campaign and she considers it "essential" to commence with the vaccination of children older than five years, as that is the "age group that shows a higher incidence rate."

In Portugal, 1,161,527 people have already received a booster dose against Covid-19, according to the latest vaccination bulletin released by the Portuguese Health Directorate, and 8,574,702 people have already completed primary vaccination with two doses.