A third of Danes will reject the chance to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a new Megafon poll for TV2.
Given a choice of the vaccines currently being offered, almost all of the respondents interested in getting the vaccine said they would prefer it to be Pfizer or Biontech.
Nobody wants the AstraZeneca
Nobody wants an AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, even though the European Medicines Agency has ruled it safe.
While many of the countries that called a halt to their AZ jabs have resumed using it, Denmark and fellow Scandinavian countries Sweden and Norway continue to say no.
Long wait for most people
Most Danes (and internationals) are in the group at the end of the queue: the 3 million without any chronic conditions or frontline work needs, who will be vaccinated between mid-May and late-July.
Right now, Denmark is vaccinating the 80-84 age group.
Discovering new hiking trails instead of always heading to Dyrehaven
The national rambling association, Dansk Vandrelaug, has struck a deal with Google Maps that will result in 288 more hiking trails becoming visible on its digital map from Thursday. Dansk Vandrelaug wants the public, who during the pandemic have really stepped up their hiking, to discover new trails instead of always heading to the tried and trusted ones. For example, Dyrehaven and Møns Klint have seen far too much action, claims Dansk Vandrelaug.
Armistice on pepper spray to end on April 1
Since February 1, it has been possible to legally hand over pepper spray to the police following last year’s change in law that has made possessing one a criminal act. From April 1, any pepper spray in your possession will be deemed illegal contraband and you risk being fined 3,000 kroner. Carrying it at a nightlife venue could earn you a two-week prison sentence if you have prior convictions. Only vulnerable people with special needs are exempt.
Broken down: how many kids does the nation have
The average woman in Denmark aged 15-49 will have 1.67 children, according to 2020 figures – the fourth year in a row that the rate has fallen. The numbers vary wildly according to which municipality the women live in. In the Capital Region, the rate was 1.61, and in Lolland as low as 1.37, but at the other end of the scale, Rebild has an average rate of 2.48. A low rate of 1.34 (down from 1.43 in 2019) can be found among immigrant women from western countries. Overall, of the 2,787,784 parents in Denmark, 21 percent have just one kid, 53 percent (1,420,665) have two, 21 percent have three, and 5 percent have four or more. Some 20-21 percent of all men in Denmark, and 12-13 percent of all women, are childless.
New cards will be required to gamble from next year
From next year, a special card will be needed in order to gamble at kiosks and other stores. As well as tightening regulations to ensure under-18s don’t bet, the cards are aimed at problem gamblers and will, for example, include a maximum stake allowance, or maximum monthly outlay. Additionally, the authorities are hopeful the cards will make it harder for criminals to use gambling for money laundering – and even help prevent match-fixing.
Former PM eyeing return to politics with new “bridge-building” party
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the former prime minister, has indicated there is a good chance he will stand for election in 2023. He told Jyllands-Posten: “I think I will. But I do not know for sure.” Should Rasmussen return to politics, it will be with a new “bridge-building” party with far more central views than Venstre – a potential kingmaker in the formation of the next government, should it get enough support. It is believed that Rasmussen is satisfied with initial research into the viability of such a party. “We must be able to present a party that is eligible for election,” he said. In the 1990s, the kingmaker party was Radikale, but it was then usurped by Dansk Folkeparti, which advocated a mix of hard right and left policies. Both parties are currently struggling to attract support.
