Stockholm (AFP)
Sweden plans to offer a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to "a large part of the population" in 2022, even if it could start with vulnerable populations as early as this fall, health authorities announced on Tuesday.
The final decision is not yet made, however, the Public Health Agency said, as several countries announced their intention to propose an additional dose in the face of the breakthrough of the Delta variant and concerns over reduced efficacy. vaccines in relation to observed or future mutations.
"Our assessment is that it is not possible to eradicate the virus and that the vaccination work should therefore be long-term and focused on reducing serious disease and mortality," said the chief epidemiologist. Anders Tegnell in a statement.
As a first step, residents of retirement homes, people over the age of 80 and people with a severely reduced immune system will be given priority for a booster dose, probably in the fall.
As further dose decisions in the West raise concerns that developing countries will continue to lag behind in their vaccination campaigns, the Swedish health authority also deems "important that we pay special attention to vaccinating residents. in geographic areas with low vaccination coverage ".
Some countries have already adopted the principle of a vaccine booster.
In others, this subject is debated.
Israel has been administering a third dose of anticoronavirus vaccines to patients with a weak immune system since mid-July amid rising Covid cases linked to the spread of the Delta variant.
© 2021 AFP