Belgium is the fastest vaccinating country in the European Union. This is shown by a graphic posted by Flemish minister of welfare and Public Health Wouter Beke (CD&V) on his Facebook page.
On Friday, the number of doses placed per 100 inhabitants in Belgium was 1.27 (average of the last seven days). Our country is doing better than the Netherlands (1.18) and Luxembourg (1.15). The worst are Bulgaria (0.25) and Ireland (0.11).
Minister Beke points out that Flanders vaccinates even faster than the Belgian average, ‘and we will continue at this rate smoothly over the next two weeks. During that period we will make no less than 1.3 million shots, of which 1 million first doses. We therefore expect that by 21 June, the start of the summer, the vaccination rate will reach as much as 70 percent among the Flemish adult population (1st jab)’.
According to Wouter Beke, there are several reasons why Flanders vaccinates so strongly: ‘we not only have a strong vaccination tradition, but we also focus on proximity through our vaccination centres. Cooperation between the front line zones and the local authorities is excellent. Our medical staff are on hand every day, as are the many volunteers.’
Figures from the health and Care Agency show that Flanders is at the top of Europe in terms of vaccination rates. The Flemish region should only lead Malta, Iceland and Hungary – which uses Chinese and Russian vaccines that have not been verified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Just below Flanders are Finland and Wallonia.
