Fernando Acosta, president of the Andalusian Association of Residences and Care Services for the Elderly (Lares), has said this Friday (27 August) "that the third Covid-19 booster dose for residents in centres for the elderly cannot be delayed."

"We need an answer now," the president added during an interview on Canal Sur Television, because the number of coronavirus positives and deaths in residences "is increasing" and people "with many pathologies have fewer antibodies."

On Thursday, the Junta de Andalucía’s Minister of Health, Jesús Aguirre, said "we are waiting" for the report that the European Medicines Agency has promised to have ready in early September, before making a decision about giving a third jab.

He also pointed to a new study by the Carlos III Health Institute that will begin on 1 September to measure the level of immunity that people in residences for the elderly have.

The centres in Andalucía currently have 516 positive coronavirus cases registered and a total of 39 elderly residents are admitted to hospital due to recent Covid outbreaks, according to the Junta.

Fernando Acosta, said that that the main sources of infections in residences are from "workers, visitors and walks." He said that the elderly "have suffered the most from the pandemic" because many have been confined "in rooms", "preventing them from exercising" and affecting their "mental health.”.

Finally, the Lares president has asked for "calm" from the relatives of the residents, since the elderly "are well cared for" and the workers "are people with a vocation."

"I ask that they have confidence in the centres, that they be aware of - and respect - the security measures," he concluded.