More than 5.2 million Flemish people have already received a first or second shot of a corona vaccine. About 76 percent have already been fully vaccinated. That says the Agency for Care and Health, which gave a state of affairs of the vaccination campaign in our country on Friday. All vaccination centers will therefore close permanently on 15 October. But what about who still needs to get a shot? And who is eligible for a ‘booster shot’?
–
What about the latest vaccination figures?
According to the Flemish vaccination counter, 5,271,661 Flemings have already received a shot. Two shots have already been taken in more than 76 percent. Of the total number of vaccinated Flemish people, 91 percent is older than eighteen. Of the twelve to seventeen year olds, 80 percent already received a first injection.
“Last summer there was a serious catch-up in the field of vaccinations,” said Flemish Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke. “It was an important effort. This effort also allowed us to start September 1 in as normal a way as possible.” According to the minister, our country is at the top in terms of vaccination coverage: Flanders is in second place in Europe, after Malta, and Belgium is fifth. This is a complete vaccination.
(read more below the photo)
– Photo: Agency for Care and Health
In total, 8,437,600 people have already been vaccinated at least once throughout Belgium. However, the vaccination rate in the capital is a lot lower than in the rest of the country: 634,000 people have already received a first shot there, which is 65 percent of the inhabitants. In Flanders this is 92 percent of the inhabitants, in Wallonia it is 80 percent.
The capital has a lower vaccination rate, but what about the other municipalities?
According to the Agency for Care and Health, there is already a full vacancy rate above 70 percent in 279 municipalities, of which 160 municipalities even exceed 80 percent. Ten Flemish municipalities are doing less well. As expected, this concerns many Brussels suburbs (Grimbergen, Asse, Kraainem, Zaventem, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Wemmel, Vilvoorde and Drogenbos). Remarkable: Antwerp and Machelen are also among the ten municipalities where less than 70 percent of the inhabitants have already received two injections.
How many vaccines are still given every day?
The volumes are steadily declining. During the week of September 6, for example, there are still 61,697 jabs on the schedule, the following week that figure drops to 39,398. If vaccination centers are faced with surpluses at the end of the day, the primary focus is on the over 12s and the doubters.
(read more below the photo)
–
Photo: Agency for Care and Health
On October 15, the last vaccination centers will close their doors for good. What should people do who then have to get a (second) shot?
In concrete terms, one or two pharmacy hubs will be set up per primary care zone. The vaccines will be delivered at that location and prepared by the pharmacists. GPs and nurses can then collect them there to administer injections. Anyone who wants to have an injection after 15 October will therefore have to go to their GP, confirms Dirk Dewolf, administrator-general of the Agency for Care and Health.
Who hasn’t had a shot after October 15?
The group of citizens who have not yet been vaccinated is shrinking. It will therefore mainly concern people who first had doubts, have changed their mind and still want a shot, children who only turn twelve after 15 October and foreign students.
What about that third shot, the so-called booster shot? Who is eligible for this?
From September 10, the first invitations for people who are eligible for a booster dose will go out. These will mainly be patients with congenital immune disorders, people on chronic kidney dialysis and certain HIV and blood cancer patients. According to the Agency for Care and Health, it would be about 250,000 to 280,000 people. Although that number can still increase: the lists are currently in full preparation and can be supplemented by general practitioners from 13 September.
People who qualify for the so-called booster shot can find out (at the latest) from 20 September. Who is invited can see this via www.myhealthviewer.be.
–
