1. Who is this new round of vaccination intended for?
For people ‘who are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill due to corona’, the RIVM writes on the special corona page. These are generally people over 60 and people who die for other reasons, such as illness or a lowered immune system. In addition, pregnant women, vulnerable people and healthcare workers with direct patient contact can also receive a corona shot.
2. Who gets an invitation now?
As of today, all Dutch people who are 60 years or older will receive an invitation letter from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment for the new vaccination round. This concerns about 4.8 million people. Previously, people with vulnerable health also received an invitation, but that has changed.
3. I am under 60, can I still get a shot?
Yes, that’s possible. Even though you don’t get an invitation; You can make an appointment with the GGD yourself from mid-October. The RIVM explicitly indicates that the vaccination is available for people between the ages of 18 and 59 who receive a call for a flu shot every year, for pregnant women and for healthcare workers. The institute also mentions people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or lung disease, and people ‘from medical high-risk groups’, for example people with an immune disorder.
The shot can also be obtained for people who think they need extra protection for other reasons, for example because they live with someone with vulnerable health. You can make an appointment online via planjeprik.nl or by phone via 0800 7070.
4. When does the stinging start?
The GGD will start vaccinating on October 2. The injection locations can be found at special website from the government. People who live in an institution will be visited by someone from a GGD for an injection. Vaccination will continue until the end of December 2023. Anyone who is pregnant or at high medical risk can still receive a corona shot after a referral from a doctor.
5. What about the vaccine?
The injection is done with the so-called XBB vaccine. That vaccine was developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and tailored to the current variant of the coronavirus, the XBB.1.5 omikron variant. The vaccines were approved for use by the EMA (European Medicines Agency) at the end of August. The vaccines work in the same way as the original mRNA vaccines. According to EMA, the side effects of the new vaccines are comparable to those of the old vaccines, and all of them are short-lived: a sore arm, fatigue, fever, a day of feeling unwell.
6. Is a vaccination against corona still necessary?
Not for everyone anymore, writes the RIVM, because ‘broad protection against corona has been built up among the population’. In addition, the current variant of the virus is less pathogenic than the early variants. But the coronavirus has not disappeared. Vulnerable people in particular can still become seriously ill.
That is why the RIVM advises that you still observe safety measures in the event of contamination, for your own health and for the health of vulnerable people. The institute advises people who have ‘complaints consistent with respiratory infections, such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat and a runny or runny nose’ to stay at home. It is also wise to avoid contact with vulnerable people, wash hands, and ventilate indoor areas well.
2023-09-19 04:01:48
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