The Netherlands divided over booster shot: 40 percent doubt or say no
This showed that 60 percent of the vaccinated people plan to get a booster this fall. 21 percent say they don’t know yet, and 19 percent say they don’t want another shot. Willingness has been bought, especially among young people.
Little worries
In addition, the research showed that vaccinated Dutch people are less concerned about the virus. At present, 30 percent of the onset is still due to the virus. Of the people of Dutch origin are not worried about the virus, 62 percent did so before.
Nevertheless, according to Bart Bolkestein, data analyst at Corona Locator Netherlands, it is not a luxury to get a vaccination. “Since week we have seen that the R- is again above 1. It means that the total number of corona infections received again. With a new vaccine, those numbers can be reduced again.”
“That increase actually arose after the end of the school holidays,” continues Bolkestein. At least there is a small revival.”
Bolkestein points out that it is becoming more difficult to monitor the development of the virus. “The closer you are to it, the better you can do everything. People who test positive with a self-test and then don’t go to the GGD. Others don’t even test at all anymore.”
Basic immunity
Also professor of immunology Marjolein van Egmond of the importance of the booster to suppress a new corona wave. “We are in any case better for it than last year, everyone has some kind of basic immunity. But it is expected that the number of infections will start further in the autumn, ahead of the protection progression.”
“Due to these two concurring factors, there is a real chance that people will eventually end up in hospital again,” continues Van Egmond. “Especially for the new people and for the weaker ones, the booster really makes the difference.”
According to Van Egmond, this has to do with the fact that the jab works as a booster for the old jab, but also offers protection against the now dominant omikron variant. This was not yet the case during the first vaccination round, because we were not yet dealing with the delta variant.
According to Van Egmond, we don’t have to worry about our immune system getting ‘vaccination tired’ either. “Theoretically, that could be possible, but there is currently no indication for that. After each booster, each time better protection against the variants of the virus. In addition, the new jab is a real version. It is not just the same jab.”
No care stroke expected
“We no longer expect a care infarction in the near future, but autumn for individuals remains important to prevent you from getting sick,” says Van Egmond. “Young people do not have the risk of becoming very serious. But the jab does protect and corona always comes at an inconvenient time.”
“Society can also be disrupted if not many people end up in hospitals, but a lot of people are sick,” continues the professor of immunology. “That’s why I advise everyone: take the jab and make sure you are protected all winter and help other people.”