Azores Situation Report Wednesday 6th November 2024

 

From our correspondent in Azores

More than half of people aged 85 and over have already been vaccinated against the flu

More than half (59.6%) of people aged 85 or over have already been vaccinated against the flu this year, according to estimates from the monitoring of the vaccination campaign released yesterday.

The results of the second wave of the vaccinometer, an initiative of the Portuguese Society of Pneumology and the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF), indicate that vaccination coverage compared to the previous year increased in groups recommended for the vaccine, rising from 39.7% to 43.6%.

The exception is the population between 60 and 64 years old, whose vaccination rate is 21.6%, below what was seen in the 2023/24 season (-4%).

Vaccinometer estimates show that 57% of pregnant women have already been vaccinated, with half saying they did so on their doctor’s recommendation.

Around 40.1% of healthcare professionals in contact with patients have also taken the flu vaccine, the same being true for more than half (53.7%) of those surveyed with chronic illness.

In the group of chronic patients, more than half (55.7%) of the population with cardiovascular disease will have already been vaccinated, the same happening to 49.3% of people with diabetes.

Coverage for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is around 42.1%.

Of the total group of vaccinated people, in the sample studied, the main reasons that led them to get vaccinated were the doctor’s recommendation (33.9%), their own initiative to always be protected (33.5%), in the context of a work initiative (17.0%), having received notification of an appointment from the National Health Service (8%) and knowing that they are part of a risk group (7%).

Quoted in a statement, the president of APMGF, Nuno Jacinto, considers the results in the second wave of the vaccinometer to be remarkable, highlighting the increase in vaccination compared to the previous year, especially considering that last season this data was collected in November, “which translates into an increase in the vaccination rate”.

“Another piece of data that is quite consistent, not only with the last wave, but also with data from last season, concerns the weight that the doctor’s recommendation has in the reasons why groups with recommendations get vaccinated,” he adds.

Regarding the high-dose vaccine, which is administered free of charge to people aged 85 or over in health centers, in the total sample studied in the vaccinometer, 52.9% do not know that a vaccine with these characteristics is available for this population.

Regarding the place where the vaccine was purchased/administered, 39.7% were at a pharmacy, 26.9% at health centres, the same percentage as those who were vaccinated in the context of a work initiative.

Among those who have not yet been vaccinated, the main reason given for not getting vaccinated was that it was not a habit (37.8%).

Regarding the co-administration of flu and COVID-19 vaccines and taking data from the previous wave as a reference, the rate in the groups with recommendation decreased (from 82.9% to 76.6%), although the main reason for receiving both vaccines at the same time remains the same (I want to be protected | I consider that both are important for my health).

Still in relation to co-administration but based on respondents who have not yet been vaccinated, the trend from the last wave remains, in which the majority intend to be vaccinated by taking both vaccines at the same time (57.7%), in line with last year’s results, albeit with less expressive values ​​(85.3% vs 57.7%).

The vaccinometer was launched in 2009 and data from the second wave were collected between October 23 and 28.

The initiative allows monitoring, in real time, the flu vaccination coverage rate in priority groups recommended by the Directorate-General for Health.

The seasonal vaccination campaign against flu and Covid-19 began on September 20 and is taking place simultaneously in thousands of pharmacies across the country and in SNS units.

Lisbon Court of Appeal confirms conviction of Azorean mayor of São Roque for embezzlement

The Lisbon Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction of the president of the Parish Council of São Roque, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, for the crime of embezzlement.

On its official website, the Lisbon Regional Attorney General’s Office stated that the Lisbon Court of Appeal “dismissed the appeal filed by the defendant, president of a Parish Council, following a conviction by the Local Criminal Court of Ponta Delgada”, on the island of São Miguel.

On April the 24th, the Ponta Delgada Court sentenced Pedro Moura to three years and 10 months in prison, with a suspended sentence, and loss of mandate for continued embezzlement and economic participation in a business.

Pedro Moura had his sentence suspended under the obligation to pay, within a period of one year, an amount exceeding 3,800 euros.

According to the note from the Lisbon Regional Attorney General’s Office, with the recent decision of the judgment of October the 23rd, 2024, the Lisbon Court of Appeal confirmed the defendant’s conviction for the practice, as president of the Parish Council, of “a crime of embezzlement (in apparent competition with a crime of economic participation in business), with a sentence of three years and 10 months in prison, suspended in its execution for the same period of time”.

The defendant was also required, “within one year from the date of the final judgment”, to pay the amount of 3,825 euros to the State and a fine of 100 days (at a daily rate of 15 euros), which amounts to 1,500 euros.

The mayor was also sentenced to “the additional penalty of loss of office as president of the Parish Council”.

The facts judged by the Court were committed between 2015 and 2019.

The court considered the accusation made by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) as proven within the scope of the investigation, which dates to 2015, when Pedro Moura was already president of the Parish Council of São Roque, elected by the PS, and a deputy in the Azorean parliament.

At issue in this case is the alleged diversion of an amount exceeding 137 thousand euros from the Parish Council’s accounts to the Clube Naval de São Roque, created and managed by Pedro Moura.

According to the MP, the local authority purchased three plots of land to carry out urgent works in the parish and the assets were transferred to the Naval Club.

Of these plots of land, two were later returned to the Board, but a third was sold by Clube Naval for 250 thousand euros to pay off part of the loan.

During the reading of the sentence, the judge stated that Pedro Moura was the one who managed “the destinies” of the Parish Council and “the remaining members signed” and “followed orders” from the mayor, while “the Naval Club was a ghost association”.

“There was never any protocol with the Board for the decision to acquire these properties”, said the magistrate, when reading the ruling, adding that Pedro Moura, as the holder of a public office, “illicitly appropriated public funds”.

The court found it proven that he “exclusively” controlled the Junta and the Naval Club, “created to acquire real estate”.

It was also proven that “the water and electricity bills were paid by the Board but were in the name of the Naval Club.

According to the judge, “it was not a mistake, it was an illegitimate appropriation of amounts belonging to the public treasury”.

In the court’s understanding, Pedro Moura “acted with intent, acted freely”, and knew that he was doing so “in his capacity as president of the Parish Council, appropriating funds from the Council for the benefit of the Naval Club”.

As for the amount exceeding 137 thousand euros, the judge said that “the Naval Club donated the two buildings to the Board”, for which reason it “has already been reimbursed”.

After the sentence was read, Pedro Moura told journalists that he was “dissatisfied” and that he would appeal the decision, reinforcing that public works had been carried out and that “in the balance of the accounts” the Board had benefited.

 

 

 

Azores Situation Report Thursday 31st October 2024

 

51-year-old man dies after being swept away by the sea

A 51-year-old Belgian man, who was swept away by a rip current on Monte Verde beach last Friday, ended up dying, having been declared dead in the Emergency Department of the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo.

Last Friday, a man and a child were rescued on Monte Verde beach, after being swept away by riparian waves.

According to the National Maritime Authority, the 51-year-old man and the 12-year-old child, both of Belgian nationality, were rescued “after allegedly getting into difficulties in the water, after being dragged by large swells, on Monte Verde beach, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande”.

The alert was received at 4:45 pm on Friday, through the Ponta Delgada Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, with elements of the local command of the Ponta Delgada Maritime Police and the ‘Sea Watch’ project being mobilized to the location.

The National Maritime Authority revealed that, upon arrival at the scene, rescuers found that the child, assisted by a swimmer who was nearby, “was physically well, without needing medical assistance”.

The man, who was in cardiorespiratory arrest, “was rescued to land by a surfer, and was immediately assisted by lifeguards from the Ribeira Grande pools, in collaboration with members of the SRPCBA”, who later transported him to the hospital in Ponta Delgada.

According to the hospital, the man ended up dying, having been declared dead in the Hospital’s Emergency Department.

 

Seven suspects arrested for involvement in hard drug trafficking network in Ponta Delgada

The PSP arrested six men, and one woman accused of trafficking hard drugs in the parish of Livramento, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, as part of a “family-oriented” network

Following suspicious movements near a café in the parish, the police detected “an intense and abnormal flow of drug addicts heading towards the establishment and its surrounding area”.

According to the statement released, “various indications and evidence were then collected that pointed to the existence of a network of drug traffickers, of a family nature, suspected of carrying out transactions of significant quantities of hard drugs, specifically heroin and synthetic drugs”.

The PSP carried out three house searches and 11 non-house searches, having seized synthetic drugs, money, three cars and four motorcycles, among other objects.

The seven people were brought before a criminal investigating judge at the Ponta Delgada Court, and the most serious coercive measure, preventive detention, was applied.

The PSP added that two other arrests of suspects linked to this criminal network had previously been made, with one of them being under house arrest.

 

Soldier dies in Ponta Delgada during physical condition diagnostic test

A soldier died this Wednesday following a cardiorespiratory arrest that occurred “during the physical condition diagnostic test” at the São Gonçalo Military Camp, in Ponta Delgada, announced the Army, which opened an investigation process.

“It is with pain and great consternation that the Portuguese Army announces the death of a recruit soldier from the 6th Common General Training Course for Army Enlisted Personnel, incorporated on October 21st, into the 2nd Garrison Regiment, who left prematurely and unexpectedly”, said a statement released this Wednesday.

According to the Army, the death of the 22-year-old soldier occurred at the São Gonçalo Military Camp, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, “following a cardiorespiratory arrest that occurred during the physical condition diagnostic test (Cooper Test), which all recruit soldiers take at the beginning of their training”.

“The soldier was immediately evacuated, by ambulance, to the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, in Ponta Delgada, where resuscitation manoeuvres were carried out, without success, and his death was declared at the end of the morning”, it adds.

The Army added that it “activated psychological support for the family” and opened an investigation process to determine the causes of what happened.

The soldier was from the municipality of Lagoa, on the island of São Miguel.

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 30th October 2024

51-year-old man dies after being swept away by the sea

A 51-year-old Belgian man, who was swept away by a rip current on Monte Verde beach last Friday, ended up dying, having been declared dead in the Emergency Department of the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo.

Last Friday, a man and a child were rescued on Monte Verde beach, after being swept away by riparian waves.

According to the National Maritime Authority, the 51-year-old man and the 12-year-old child, both of Belgian nationality, were rescued “after allegedly getting into difficulties in the water, after being dragged by large swells, on Monte Verde beach, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande”.

The alert was received at 4:45 pm on Friday, through the Ponta Delgada Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, with elements of the local command of the Ponta Delgada Maritime Police and the ‘Sea Watch’ project being mobilized to the location.

The National Maritime Authority revealed that, upon arrival at the scene, rescuers found that the child, assisted by a swimmer who was nearby, “was physically well, without needing medical assistance”.

The man, who was in cardiorespiratory arrest, “was rescued to land by a surfer, and was immediately assisted by lifeguards from the Ribeira Grande pools, in collaboration with members of the SRPCBA”, who later transported him to the hospital in Ponta Delgada.

According to the hospital, the man ended up dying, having been declared dead in the Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Seven suspects arrested for involvement in hard drug trafficking network in Ponta Delgada

The PSP arrested six men, and one woman accused of trafficking hard drugs in the parish of Livramento, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, as part of a “family-oriented” network

Following suspicious movements near a café in the parish, the police detected “an intense and abnormal flow of drug addicts heading towards the establishment and its surrounding area”.

According to the statement released, “various indications and evidence were then collected that pointed to the existence of a network of drug traffickers, of a family nature, suspected of carrying out transactions of significant quantities of hard drugs, specifically heroin and synthetic drugs”.

The PSP carried out three house searches and 11 non-house searches, having seized synthetic drugs, money, three cars and four motorcycles, among other objects.

The seven people were brought before a criminal investigating judge at the Ponta Delgada Court, and the most serious coercive measure, preventive detention, was applied.

The PSP added that two other arrests of suspects linked to this criminal network had previously been made, with one of them being under house arrest.

Soldier dies in Ponta Delgada during physical condition diagnostic test

A soldier died this Wednesday following a cardiorespiratory arrest that occurred “during the physical condition diagnostic test” at the São Gonçalo Military Camp, in Ponta Delgada, announced the Army, which opened an investigation process.

“It is with pain and great consternation that the Portuguese Army announces the death of a recruit soldier from the 6th Common General Training Course for Army Enlisted Personnel, incorporated on October 21st, into the 2nd Garrison Regiment, who left prematurely and unexpectedly”, said a statement released this Wednesday.

According to the Army, the death of the 22-year-old soldier occurred at the São Gonçalo Military Camp, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, “following a cardiorespiratory arrest that occurred during the physical condition diagnostic test (Cooper Test), which all recruit soldiers take at the beginning of their training”.

“The soldier was immediately evacuated, by ambulance, to the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, in Ponta Delgada, where resuscitatation were carried out, without success, and his death was declared at the end of the morning”, it adds.

The Army added that it “activated psychological support for the family” and opened an investigation process to determine the causes of what happened.

The soldier was from the municipality of Lagoa, on the island of São Miguel.