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Denmark is preparing to ride out the coming winter without coronavirus restrictions, even if an increase in infections is expected, Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said on Friday.
The Nordic country hopes to avoid lockdown measures with new and improved booster vaccines, increased immunity in the population, and better tracking the spread of the virus through means such as wastewater testing.
“We are well prepared. Our strategy and goal is to be a fully open society this winter,” Heunicke said at a press conference.
Europe to receive new Omicron resistant COVID booster within days of approval
Denmark received 4.5 million doses of the updated COVID-19 booster vaccine to target the Omicron variant in September, and the first deliveries are expected to arrive next week, he said.
From September 15, authorities will start offering the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over 50 and vulnerable groups.
Denmark experienced a slight increase in COVID infections over the summer, but now the number of cases appears to be declining, Danish health officials said.
The European Union’s pharmaceutical regulators on Thursday endorsed two separate COVID-19 vaccine boosters updated to target Omicron variants ahead of an expected increase in infections this winter.
What you need to know about Omicron’s vaccine-resistant variant BA.5
Developed by a team of Moderna, Pfizer and Biontech, the new so-called bivalent shot combats Omicron’s BA.1 version and the original virus first detected in China.
The European Medicines Agency will also comment on an adapted vaccine targeting the currently prevalent BA.4/BA.5 variants in the coming weeks.