António Costa said that 83.5% of people over 65 and around 96,000 children are already vaccinated with the booster dose, an “effort that will continue over the next few weeks”.

According to the prime minister, due to vaccination against Covid-19, Portugal currently has a "significantly lower number of admissions" than a year ago.

Vaccination has also allowed, according to António Costa, to lower the number of deaths per Covid-19 case.

"I would like to make it very clear that vaccination is worthwhile and is the most effective tool to prevent transmission, the most effective, above all, to guarantee the lowest severity of the infection", stressed the prime minister.

Vaccine centres closing

The vaccination centres against Covid-19 will be closed during the Christmas period and the end of the year, on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st of December and on the 1st of January, the General Directorate of Health said.

By the end of the year, the vaccination centres will only be open on the Wednesday and Thursday of this week and, the following week, on the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th. In a statement, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) adds although on the 23rd, Thursday, the vaccination centres will only work in the “Open House” regime for people aged 60 and over.