Anders Tegnell

Anders Tegnell is a Swedish physician and civil servant who is best known for his role as the State Epidemiologist of the Public Health Agency of Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was born on 17 April 1957 in Uppsala, Sweden.

Early Life and Education

Tegnell was born and raised in Uppsala, Sweden. He completed his medical studies at the Lund University, one of the oldest and largest universities in Sweden. After his graduation, he specialized in Infectious Diseases and Public Health.

Career

Tegnell started his career as a physician, working in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) for Doctors Without Borders. He later joined the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) where he worked on various infectious disease projects.

In 2005, Tegnell was appointed as the Deputy State Epidemiologist of the Public Health Agency of Sweden. In 2013, he was promoted to the position of State Epidemiologist, a role in which he has been instrumental in shaping Sweden's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Response

Tegnell's approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden has been controversial. Unlike many other countries, Sweden did not implement a full lockdown. Instead, Tegnell advocated for a strategy of herd immunity, which involves allowing a large number of people to get infected in order to eventually slow the spread of the virus.

This approach has been both praised and criticized. Supporters argue that it allows for more personal freedom and less economic damage, while critics say it has led to a higher death rate in Sweden compared to other countries.

Personal Life

Tegnell is married and has three children. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

See Also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
• Public Health Agency of Sweden
• Herd immunity

External Links

• Public Health Agency of Sweden