“At this point, there is no scientific evidence that immunity is declining in the young, healthy population.” This is what Dirk Ramaekers, the head of the Vaccination Taskforce, says in response to the announcement by the Flemish government to offer the general population a third corona vaccine.
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See also: This is what Dirk Ramaekers said about the third shot at the beginning of this month
After residents of residential care centres, people with weakened immunity and the over-65s, the Flemish government now also wants to give the rest of the population the chance to have a third shot (or in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine a second shot). ). The intention is to strengthen protection in the wider population in this way.
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In concrete terms, Flanders wants to give all people over the age of 12 an extra/third shot. That vaccination would take place through the vaccination centers. But before Flanders can start with that extra vaccination, it has to wait for the advice of the Superior Health Council.
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“As scientific as possible”
That council is asked by the Flemish government to “provide clarity quickly”. “In this way, the IMC (the Interministerial Conference on Public Health; ed.) can quickly make a decision about this,” said Prime Minister Jan Jambon and Minister of Health Wouter Beke.
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In a response, Ramaekers states that the Vaccination Taskforce invariably works as scientifically as possible. “We are monitoring the situation worldwide. Especially the situation in the United States and the United Kingdom because they are two months ahead (the vaccination campaign there started earlier; ed.). Since the summer, we have also taken into account the fact that the general population should potentially receive a third shot, but on the basis of scientific arguments. I would therefore like to know what the scientific substantiation is on which the Flemish government relies to already announce the third injection”, says Ramaekers.
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Minister of Health Wouter Beke is convinced that the Health Council will advise a third shot:
Ethical element
In addition, Ramaekers also puts an ethical element back on the table. “The top priority now is to donate vaccines to countries where even fewer people are vaccinated. We have already donated about three million doses to COVAX and will continue to do so.”
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Finally, the head of the Vaccination Taskforce points out that rolling out a general third shot is not an ad hoc solution to halt the rising corona curve in Flanders. “Why not look at simple measures that have already proven their worth, such as the mouth mask and the COVID Safe Ticket?” Ramaekers wonders aloud.
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