"Nursing students in clinical education will finally be included in priority groups for vaccination against covid-19, as they are exposed to the same risks as other health professionals, as has been repeatedly defended by the OE", states Ordem dos Enfermeiros in a statement.

OE said that the guarantee came from the new coordinator of the task force for the Vaccination Plan Henrique Gouveia e Melo, who met with the president, Ana Rita Cavaco, and the vice-president, Luís Barrier.

At the same meeting, it was decided that it will be the responsibility of the OE to gather information about nurses who have not yet been vaccinated, namely from the private sector and professionals, said.

Regarding students who are in the National Health Service, the OE adds that, “since, to date, the vaccination of vaccinated primary care nurses is residual, a new meeting is scheduled for 15 February”.

These questions led OE to write to the Minister of Health, Marta Temido, and to the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

As for vaccination for pharmacy employees, OE again defended that any professional who is not a nurse or doctor should be removed from the vaccination process. On this issue, the task force coordinator guaranteed that will never exceed the technical standards of the DGS.