Sweden is lagging behind in the vaccination against covid-19, figures from Our world in data show.

When Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (S) was asked about the figures in Aktuellt, she mentioned the fact that Sweden does not yet vaccinate younger people as part of the explanation.

- There are countries that have started vaccinating 12- to 15-year-olds, which of course increases their share.

I think it is important to say that many have been vaccinated, but also that we are not satisfied.

We have a job that must continue, she says.

Hallengren does not share the critics' opinion

The Swedish Public Health Agency (FHM) has repeatedly talked about the importance of focusing vaccination efforts on the groups with the lowest vaccination coverage.

Today, the government presented such investments of SEK 40 million, but critics believe that the initiative comes too late.

That picture does not share Hallengren.

- Even when we started the vaccination, we were well aware of this.

It has been part of the agreement that the government has signed with SKR.

But it is clearly a very big condition from the beginning to both vaccinate the oldest in descending order and at the same time work to reach those who have a low vaccination rate.

"Feels late"

One of the critics is Magnus Snäckestrand, chief physician in intensive care at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg.

He thinks that the efforts "feel late", at the same time as he questions whether volunteering is really the right way to go to achieve results.

For ethical and historical reasons, he as a doctor can not advocate vaccine coercion, he says, but at the same time he sees that vaccine passes could be a useful tool.

- If you now want to use your freedom to give up a very safe vaccine, you must also take responsibility in other ways so as not to infect your fellow human beings.

Then I mean that vaccine passes could have been a good support to remind of that responsibility.

Will voluntary advice suffice?

FHM has previously announced that they will soon present special advice to people who have not been vaccinated.

Even there, Snäckestrand asks if voluntary advice is enough.

- It is probably good if you can reach all the way forward with volunteering, but the voluntary line in Sweden has led to more people becoming infected and dying compared to our neighboring countries.

However, Lena Hallengren defends the government's position.

- We have come a long way with volunteering both now and in previous contexts when we talk about vaccinations. We have experience of childhood vaccinations where we are over 98 percent, and that voluntarily.