What will vaccination be like in Spain?
1:50
(CNN) -
The Minister of Health of Spain, Salvador Illa, has given more details of the vaccination campaign against covid-19 that will begin in the country in January of next year.
Illa said the government had created 15 population categories to establish who would have precedence to receive a vaccine.
He confirmed that at the top of the list will be the elderly and people with disabilities who live in residences and the staff who care for them.
Also in the first phase would be the health personnel.
He estimated that 2.5 million people would be vaccinated in the first phase, which would run from January to March.
The second phase would include other Spaniards over 64 years of age and those from higher risk groups.
Those who live or work in closed communities as well as vulnerable people due to their social environment would also be prioritized, he said.
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The minister confirmed that the launch of the vaccine would occur in three phases next year and that the general population would begin receiving the vaccine in June.
He said the strategy would be flexible, depending on the opinions of experts and when there is more data on the vaccines and their availability.
The vaccination will be free and voluntary.
Illa reiterated that the government has contracts to buy around 140 million doses, enough to vaccinate some 80 million people.
"There will be vaccines for all citizens of the country," he said.
In the meantime, he said, widespread testing would continue.
He said that currently more than 2,000 tests are being carried out per 100,000 inhabitants to detect coronavirus infection.
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He also said that a national plan for the Christmas period had not yet been decided.
"If there is a specific strategy for Christmas, we will have to agree with the autonomous communities," he said.
In another sign that infection rates in Spain are slowing down, the Community of Madrid is relaxing restrictions on mobility and openness in 13 districts.
covid-19 vaccine