In anticipation of the second expert opinion on the introduction of a partial vaccine mandate next week, Luxembourg’s healthcare sector is preparing for next autumn.
Preparations include setting up a new testing campaign, as well as ensuring that Luxembourg has enough antiviral pharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies needed to treat the lung condition.
The Ministry of Health is also preparing for a relaunch of contact tracing and a new vaccination campaign, which may include the use of new vaccines.
The Omicron subvariant BA.5 currently accounts for a quarter of all new infections in Luxembourg. This variant is probably also responsible for the slight increase in infections seend at the start of the month.
While BA.5 appears to be slightly more contagious than other Omicron subvariants, it does not appear to induce a more severe infection.
Since the subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are better at evading the immunity granted by vaccines, vaccinated and boostered individuals have a greater risk of contracting the disease.
This information was shared by Minister of Health Paulette Lenert in her reply to a parliamentary question by MPs Claude Wiseler and Max Hengel from the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV).
