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Corona virus COVID-19

In December 2019 respiratory infections were detected in China, that were confirmed to be caused by a new, previously unknown coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19, a disease caused by the virus, started spreading and WHO declared a coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

COVID-19 is primarily contagious as a droplet infection. The clinical presentation may vary from almost asymptomatic to serious, and advanced age particularly in combination with basic illnesses increases the risk of serious morbidity and death. Good hand and coughing hygiene, maintaining physical distance to other people and wearing a face mask decrease the risk of contagion. However, vaccinations are the most effective way of preventing the disease, and they are offered according to a medical risk assessment. Social and health care professionals treating corona patients, care home personnel, elderly people and those with illnesses that predispose to a serious corona presentation will be vaccinated first. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has performed an accelerated market authorization procedure to the corona vaccinations, in which their safety, efficacy and quality have been evaluated with the same criteria as in the normal market authorization process, but in an accelerated manner as quickly as the research results have been attained.

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