Stockholm — Sweden has begun offering COVID-19 booster shots to people over the age of 65 and many certified workers, and the government plans to gradually expand the third jab to most Swedes in the coming months. Said on Wednesday.
Health Minister Lena Hallenglen said in a press conference that booster vaccination with the mRNA vaccine would be gradually expanded between winter and spring to all people in the Nordic countries over the age of 16.
The medical staff provided with boosters included all employees involved in home care, nursing homes, and life support programs.
Even four weeks after the removal of almost all restrictions and recommendations in Sweden, infections remain at fairly low levels. Still, after the late summer, the death toll has begun to increase slowly, with more than 15,000 casualties during this week’s pandemic process.
“Studies have noticed a diminished antibody effect. We found that during the summer we had an outbreak in a nursing home,” said Johann Carlson, head of the Public Health Agency. “The third dose significantly increases the antibody.”
Previously, people living in elderly care facilities and people over the age of 80 were eligible for booster shots 6 months after the second dose. About 85% of Swedes over the age of 16 have been vaccinated once, and 80% have been vaccinated more than once.
Vaccinations have also been provided to children aged 12 to 15 years in recent weeks, but relatively few have been vaccinated so far.
By Niklas Pollard
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