More than 7 billion covid-19 jabs have been administered in nearly 200 countries to date. Yet your news feed is filling up with scare stories about rising infections and Christmas restrictions. Will it ever end? In short, no.
According to the BBC this lunchtime:
Overall, China and India have administered the highest number of doses, with 2.4 billion and 1.1 billion respectively. The US ranks third, with more than 440 million.
But when breaking the figures down by doses per 100 people in countries with a population of at least one million, Cuba, the United Arab Emirates and Chile top the list.
While countries in Europe and the Americas are progressing well with their vaccination campaigns, many states in Africa have experienced some supply issues.
Ireland has administered 7.35 million doses of a covid jab. 93 per cent of the population has had at least one dose. Yet national broadcaster RTÉ is reporting this afternoon, that the government will announce new restrictions at a press conference this evening.
It is believed that Taoiseach Micheál Martin will ask people to work from home where possible. Martin told RTÉ that while he didn’t intend to lockdown the unvaccinated as has happened in Austria, he would look with interest at how the Austrians manage the lockdown of those who have not availed of a jab.
Martin couldn’t over-emphasise the importance of everyone having their booster shot. The world’s Prime Ministers and Presidents are singing from the same hymn sheet. “Boosters for Christmas. Boosters for freedom.”
This morning, Cambridge University microbiologist Ravi Gupta told SKY News that covid jabs will be rolled-out each Winter just like flu vaccines. We knew that. But Gupta implied that the annual covid shot would in fact consist of three jabs!
And to think it’s only Monday….