“The need for public health measures of a mandatory nature is not foreseen”, said Manuel Pizarro in statements to journalists at the end of a meeting that brought together specialists and politicians at Infarmed today.

Justifying that it is time to “turn the page of this most difficult period”, the Minister of Health noted, however, that this does not mean the devaluation of the pandemic and, therefore, underlined the importance of vaccination against Covid-19.

“It is an undeniable fact that the vaccine is effective, any of the vaccines is absolutely effective against the spread, but above all against the severity of the disease and in the prevention of mortality”, he said.

Seasonal vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza began on September 7, aimed mainly at the most vulnerable groups. According to Manuel Pizarro, about 1.9 million people have already received the second booster dose of the vaccine, but the goal is to have three million by December.

Asked about the fact that the Directorate-General for Health has recommended the use of a mask for people with symptoms of respiratory infection, distancing from others and isolation for five days in case of infection, the minister said that there are aspects of public health literacy that “we are obliged to have learned during the pandemic”.

“Covid-19 has to be seen like any other respiratory infection and it is in this context that people should behave”, he defended.

Specialists and politicians met at Infarmed, in Lisbon, to take stock of the situation of the covid-19 pandemic, after the last meeting took place in February.

Manuel Pizarro considered that the meeting was, above all, useful to help prepare for the winter, although the plan is already “practically concluded”, and should be presented “in the next few days”.