The work of giving the new groups a third dose can begin from today, Tuesday, the government announces.
The Swedish Public Health Agency will continue to review whether and when a third dose may be relevant for more groups.
- The greatest need comes first, says Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (S) at a press conference.
To further protect people who need a third dose, it is important that people in their vicinity are vaccinated, according to Hallengren.
This applies to both close relatives and staff in health and care.
Continued risk of infection spreading
In some groups, far too few have been vaccinated, and in these groups the risk of infection and outbreaks of covid-19 is still high, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency's Director General Johan Carlson.
- Working to increase vaccination coverage among adults must therefore be of the highest priority for all relevant actors with the regions at the forefront, says Johan Carlson.
Unvaccinated care staff can be relocated
This week, the Swedish Public Health Agency, together with Sweden's municipalities and regions, will turn to the country's municipalities regarding vaccinations of care staff.
This is to get the municipalities to work more actively with the vaccination issue.
- It can be about having a dialogue with employees, collaborating with trade union safety representatives, allowing substitutes and employees to be vaccinated during working hours.
There is also no prohibition on asking whether an employee has been vaccinated or not.
There may be an opportunity for a relocation of those who do not want to be vaccinated after an assessment of each individual case, says Lena Hallengren.