The Netherlands is keeping the group for the third corona jab small for the time being, vulnerable people like Eva are worried: “We will soon be behind the facts again”
While many interests vulnerable people a third corona shot, the Netherlands keeps that group small. Many people with chronic diseases are not reassured. “Soon we will be running behind the facts again.”
From this week, between 200,000 and 400,000 Dutch people will receive an invitation for a third corona jab. It concerns people with a serious immune disorder and their development of patients who use heavy exercises that suppress the immune system.
Larger group abroad
In other countries, people with vulnerable health also receive an extra shot. However, the group there is often many times larger than in the Netherlands. Think of Great Britain, the United States and Israel.
In a number of countries, for example, all over 60s are standard candidates for a third vaccination. The question is why the Netherlands chooses to keep this group small.
‘People are well protected’
“We see that the amount of antibodies in the blood decreases, about six months after the first injection. But the plans still protect people well against the serious course of a COVID-19 infection. And that is the most important thing.”
That says professor of immunology Marjolein van Egmond of Amsterdam UMC. According to her, a third shot is currently not necessary for the vast majority of people.
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But Eva Kiliç-Parro de la Paz disagrees. She is an asthmatic and is very concerned. She is afraid that she will become susceptible to a serious corona infection again. “My asthma is completely out of control at the moment. Corona can’t have my lungs with it.”
In countries like the states, Israel and Great Britain, many more people have a third jab: chronic United States, hospital staff, over-50s, caregivers, you name it. A multiple of the number here.”
Conservative when it comes to boosting
Van Egmond agrees that the Netherlands is conservative when it comes to supplemental injections. “We see other countries doing it much more. But the question is their strategy on medical facts rather than purely on political decisions.”
She points to the available data. “If you look at that, a third-third injection is now too little for most people. They are already well protected against severe corona by immersion.”
‘We will keep a close eye on you’
The immunologist understands the concerns, but also wants to reassure vulnerable patients: “The degree of protection of the various vaccines is monitored very precisely.”
To those who are now concerned because they are not getting a third shot, she wants to say, “Don’t worry, you guys are watching closely. The group of procedures coming into decisions for a third shot.”
Older people a third jab in the future?
For example, it could concern the elderly: “Perhaps over time we will see that the number of hospital admissions downloads again in that group.”
“The elderly have a weaker immune system in any case and you can also expect that protection will decrease slightly. If that happens, we know that the group is ready for vaccination again.”
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Looking at the global vaccination rate
But for now, applying for a local booster vaccination goes, says Van Egmond. “That’s really important, there are still far too many countries where only a few percent of the population is.”
Instead of updating everyone in the Netherlands, it is better to look at the global vaccination rate, says Van Egmond. “Otherwise we will also remain vulnerable to mutations of the coronavirus that arise abroad. And that can turn out to be much more dangerous.”
‘Afraid that we will soon be behind the facts again’
Asthma patient believes that action should be taken: “There should certainly be breed vaccination all over the world. But give the most vulnerable the best, also in the Netherlands,” she says.
“I am afraid that we will soon fall behind the facts again and become more seriously ill again.”