“Up to 6:30pm 16 December, approximately 61,000 online requests for vaccination against Covid-19 were made for the next weekend, of December 18 and 19”, said the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health and DGS.

The vaccination of children begins on Saturday and Sunday, starting with those under nine, 10 and 11 years old, in a process that the Government estimates will be completed in March, when the second doses will be administered.

Children with comorbidities are given priority, regardless of age, as long as they have a medical prescription.

The decision to vaccinate children between the ages of 5 and 11 results from the recommendation of the Directorate-General for Health, after hearing the Technical Vaccination Commission and considering logistical issues with the coordinating nucleus of support to the Ministry of Health, namely the availability of vaccines from Pfizer, in the pediatric version.

Next weekend, the vaccination centres are exclusively reserved for administering vaccines to children aged nine, 10 and 11 years.