In several regions, vaccinations have been slow for a couple of weeks, with thousands of free times left unbooked.
The Uppsala region is one of the regions that has therefore reduced the time interval between vaccine doses and made it possible for those who have already received a dose of vaccine to book a second dose after only four weeks.
In Västmanland, this possibility has been introduced for everyone over the age of 45 who has taken a dose.
However, in Region Kalmar and Region Kronoberg, seven weeks still apply as a rule between doses 1 and 2.
- We have had a discussion about that issue but we have still chosen to have seven weeks between doses.
We want the doses we have available to still be for 16-17-year-olds who will then still have the opportunity to book a time before school starts, says Marie Ragnarsson, vaccine coordinator in Region Kalmar.
Allows rebookings
The Kronoberg region has already eased the seven-week interval in such a way that rebookings of dose 2 are now allowed when it is really needed and that these can then be rebooked no earlier than five weeks after dose 1. But no general reduction of the interval is planned.
- We must have the right amount of vaccine for dose 2 and the right variety that we can send out to our vaccinators.
So it is a solid planning work that is required in that case, says Annika Tigerhielm, acting vaccine coordinator in Region Kronoberg.
Booking pressure can increase after the holidays
Right now it is holiday time and many vaccine times are unbooked, but Annika Tigerhielm believes that the situation may soon change, something the region chooses to take into account.
- When we enter August and the schools start and you return to work after the holidays, we suspect that the number of bookings will increase again, she says.
However, both regions say that new decisions may be made week by week, depending on what the bookings look like.