Sweden says they will extend covid-19 boosters to all adults
STOCKHOLM, 24 Nov (Reuters) – Sweden will gradually start rolling out covid-19 vaccine reinforcement syringes to all adult Swedes after the increase in cases elsewhere in Europe, government and health officials said on Wednesday.
Booster shots of mRNA vaccine have been offered to people who are 65 years or older in Sweden, with an eye on eventually extending the shots to other groups and trying to persuade a still significant group of inoculated people to get the vaccine.
“We are facing an uncertain winter,” said Minister of Health Lena Hallengren at a press conference. “You can contribute by staying home if you are sick or by getting vaccinated if you have not already done so, and take your booster when offered.”
No exact timetable was presented. The Swedish Health Authority said that boostershots should be offered six months after the second shot, with further rollout to risk groups and people who are 50 years or older, before a gradual extension to all Swedes who are 18 years or older.
Hallengren said that the health authority was also tasked with preparing for potential further measures to slow down the spread of the virus after Sweden introduced vaccine cards for indoor events with more than 100 people from next month.
Sweden abolished almost all pandemic restrictions because vaccine development reached a large part of the population earlier this year and the frequency of infections remained subdued.
Unlike many of its European neighbors, the Nordic country has so far not experienced a new wave of infections, and hospital stays are still relatively low, but there have been widespread signs that the pandemic is picking up again.
(Report by Niklas Pollard, edited by Timothy Heritage)
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.