Solberg vaccinated
Norway’s prime minster and other politicians get the Moderna vaccine
Photo: David Kringstad Grønvik /
Forsvarets mediesenter / NTB
Erna Solberg received the Moderna vaccine.
MARIUS HELGE LARSEN
NTB
Prime Minister Erna Solberg and four other ministers received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, as reported by the prime minister’s office.
Solberg is scheduled to attend the NATO summit in June. NATO has recommended that all participants be vaccinated before the summit start.
Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Development Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Nybø, and Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen have also been vaccinated, according to the statement released by the government.
“These ministers carry out important tasks related to Norway’s interests abroad. Now that more people are being vaccinated internationally, more meetings are taking place physically. These ministers are being vaccinated to be able to attend these meetings on an equal footing with their colleagues from other countries,” Solberg said.
A happy prime minister
The politicians all received the Moderna vaccine, which was administered by a nurse from the Norwegian Armed Forces at the prime minister’s office on April 26.
“I’m glad I got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I hope that everyone who is offered a vaccine will say yes to it. Getting vaccinated means that we can eventually get back to the everyday life we all long for,” said Solberg.
The government said that five other employees in the apparatus surrounding the prime minister also received the first dose of vaccine on the same day in order to provide support to her.
A press release explained that the prime minister must have a certain number of people in close proximity to her vaccinated; for example, her bodyguards.
Vaccinating 65-year-olds
Solberg recently turned 60 and is registered in Bergen municipality. The municipality now offers vaccines to everyone older than 65 and to those in at-risk groups.
According to the municipality’s vaccination plan, last updated on April 23, the vaccination will be available to the age group 60 – 64, in which the prime minister falls, in about a week’s time.
Earlier this past winter, King Harald and Queen Sonja were moved up the vaccine waiting list and received their first doses on Jan. 13 and the second ones on Feb. 4. At the time, Minister of Health Bent Høie explained that the royal couple were prioritized because of their official roles but also because of their age, which put them at risk.
Translated by Lori Ann Reinhall
This article originally appeared in the May 7, 2021, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
