Several countries in Europe now require vaccination to reduce infection rates. Assistant health director Espen Rostrup Nakstad does not think it would work in Norway.
“In Norway, we have a tradition of free choice when it comes to vaccines, and it has actually benefited us in this pandemic,” Nakstad told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).
About 90% of the adult population in the country is now fully vaccinated. Norway is thus among the countries in the world with the highest proportion of vaccinated people, according to Nakstad.
On coercion
In Europe, several countries are struggling with low vaccination rates and rising infection rates. Austria requires its citizens to be vaccinated from February 1, while Italy has introduced a requirement that employees must be vaccinated or risk being laid off. Germany has made corona vaccines mandatory in the military.
Nakstad does not think vaccination coercion would work in Norway.
“I do not think it would have any further effect. Maybe it would work the other way around, that people become more skeptical, and that those who are in doubt and perhaps consider getting a vaccine end up not getting it anyway,” Nakstad said.
Rising infection trend
Infection rates in Norway are picking up speed. In the last 24 hours, 4,045 corona-infected people have been registered in the country, a twofold increase from the same day last week.
“This is the highest number we have seen, and it shows that this trend is rising,” Nakstad told NRK.
“When we look at the hospitalization numbers as well, it is clear that the infection has increased more than the hospitalization rate. But it is still an increasing trend, and it has been like that for quite some time,” he said.
In Oslo, 762 new cases of corona infection have been registered in the last 24 hours.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]
Be the first to comment on "Nakstad: I don’t think vaccination coercion is the solution"