Consultative Human Rights Commission (CCDH) has expressed concern over the government’s intention to charge a fee for PCR tests. Why then did the government pass this into law this week and what does it mean for those who cannot get vaccinated?

70 % vaccination rate was the goal that was touted in Luxembourg, however with over 70% now vaccinated, there seems to have been a shift and this is now not being considered a success, therefore new restrictions were brought in this week which will see free testing abandoned in Luxembourg in the hope that this will push people who are undecided about the vaccination to get it. Lisa spoke to Health Minister Paulette Lenert to try and understand some of the government’s logic behind the recent changes. Mme Lenert explained that things had shifted due to the aggressive nature of the new Delta variant of covid. However, it remains to be seen what affect these changes will have and whether people will choose to vaccinate out of “convenience”, as Prime Minister Bettel suggested at a recent press conference.

Lisa asked if the minister is concerned that those not vaccinated for health reasons are being forced to vaccinate and are now at a greater risk of long term health issues and whether the government has looked at giving people who are unable to vaccinate identification and access to tests, rather than making it more difficult for them to test.

The Minister also responded to questions about polarisation of vaccinated and non vaccinated in the media, and how the rhetoric of leaders makes a difference to the divisions in society, and how blaming the unvaccinated may lead to irresponsible behaviour by those vaccinated.

An Israeli report last week stated that natural antibodies through infection last longer and give more protection to variants, yet, in Luxembourg there is no identification for those who have had covid and recovered and have high rate of antibodies, Minister Lehnert explains why this is … and more in the interview in the link below.