The whole world is fighting the same virus, but the strategies of the countries are different.
What Britain can learn from Portugal's vaccination campaign.
London / Lisbon - When Boris Johnson visited the Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland just under two weeks ago, it is said that he only put on a mask after being asked three times.
The pictures from the hospital sparked a storm of indignation.
"No apology, no shame, no respect and no mask," headlined the
Daily Mirror
.
Johnson had already been seen without a mask at the climate conference in Glasgow.
So it is not an isolated case, but rather symptomatic of its corona policy in the UK.
Corona incidences: role model function of politics?
In Portugal people voluntarily wear masks
The head of state does not always wear a mask and people without mouth and nose protection are also a common image on public transport, although the mask requirement in London actually still applies in public transport.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan prevailed.
Because Johnson had announced the so-called "Freedom Day" in mid-July, which meant that many corona measures fell.
Personal responsibility instead of regulations was the motto.
Imagine the same principle in road traffic.
The seven-day incidence in the UK is just 406.5.
England is in a better position than Germany and Austria.
But in Portugal there are currently only 124.3 corona cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
There, the mask requirement continued to apply in restaurants, shops and public transport for a long time.
For a long time it was mandatory to wear masks even on the streets; this regulation fell in September. But most people put mouth and nose protection on in bars and cafes voluntarily. A study by the University of Nova in Lisbon shows that around half of all people still wore the mask outdoors in September, although they no longer had to.
Since "Freedom Day" in England in July, deaths in England have risen significantly again: an average of 170 people died of Corona per day, on one day even 223 - the highest value since March.
Nothing in the data suggests, said Johnson, that one should go over to "Plan B", that is, certain measures such as the wearing of masks must be reintroduced, as reported by the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
In Portugal, on the other hand, after the incidence has risen slightly, the requirement to wear a mask outdoors is once again up for debate.
The Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is an advocate of this idea, he himself wears the mask conscientiously.
Corona: Why the vaccination rate in Portugal is so much higher
England and Portugal not only differ in how they wear the mask, the vaccination rates in the two countries are also different. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, around 69 percent of the population in England are currently fully vaccinated, in Portugal around 87 percent have full vaccination protection. The small country on the Iberian Peninsula even has a vaccination rate of 98 percent for over 12-year-olds. Many factors play a role, such as the economy, history and people's mentality.
Portugal started polio vaccination relatively late, according to the Portuguese newspaper
Publico
.
Even in the 1970s there were still cases of polio.
Therefore, the effectiveness of vaccinations is still well remembered, according to the newspaper.
As early as 2014, the state started a program that was supposed to promote people's competence in health issues - obviously with success.
In addition, the health authorities actively sent corona vaccination appointments to the population via SMS instead of waiting for a call from those willing to be vaccinated.
Every inhabitant of Portugal received at least three invitations.
Corona vaccination campaign in Portugal: boss tipped the scales
Experts see Vice Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo as the decisive factor for the success of the vaccination campaign in Portugal. He received the vaccination campaign in February 2021 and solved this task with flying colors. A key reason for his success was that he was not a politician, said Gouveia e Melo during an appearance at the Web Summit in Lisbon in early November. That's why people trusted him. In fact, he is revered like a hero in the country.
During the audience's question and answer session, people thank him personally for his work. The general explains his strategy that he consciously used war rhetoric. "I then calmly said in front of the cameras that the killer is the virus and that these people are helping him," said Gouveia e Melo, explaining his approach. "It was 'we against the virus'", said Gouveia e Melo, who often appeared in his uniform. “Do you want to fight in our ranks? Then you have to get vaccinated. "
What works in one country doesn't necessarily have to work in other countries.
But maybe in countries like England, but also Germany or Austria, it would be worth trying to broadcast the vaccination campaign to someone who is not a politician?
He himself does not know whether the principle could work in other countries, said Gouveia e Melo.
But he is ready to pass on his strategy and expertise.
(
bm
)