The serological study, which will be used to find out the level of immunity to covid-19, will take place throughout the month in nursing homes in Alentejo and Algarve, with the aim of finding out the duration of immunity produced by the vaccine among the elderly and staff.

The beginning of the process, scheduled for 11:00 am, is attended by the minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho.

The study, promoted under the integrated program of that ministry to support elderly, will be conducted by the Champalimaud Foundation and by the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) which “will contact all institutions in these regions, requesting participation of users and professionals, until reaching the target of 5,000 participants”.

According to the government, tests will not have "any costs for the institutions" that participate in the study, whose results will be presented publicly in September.

"The results of the study will be shared with the health authorities and may contribute to future decisions on this matter", said the Government in a statement released on 7 August, when the initiative was announced.