RTL Today – “Very low risk” from virus: Sweden stops offering Covid jabs to teenagers
The Public Health Agency said on Friday that it no longer recommends that children aged 12 to 17 be vaccinated against Covid-19, citing the “very low risk” for the group.
The new recommendation comes into force on 31 October.
“The decision means that from 1 November 2022 only children in certain vulnerable groups are recommended to receive and thereby be offered vaccinations against Covid-19,” says the authority.
In September, the UK lifted its vaccine recommendation for healthy children under the age of 11.
“Overall, we see that the need for care as a result of Covid-19 has been low among children and young people… and has also decreased since the Omicron variant began to spread,” says Sören Andersson, head of the Public Health Agency’s vaccination. department, the statement said.
For those over 18, the Swedish recommendation is three doses, of which a fourth is recommended for those over 65.
The country made global headlines when it refused to implement draconian measures as other countries around the world went into lockdown.
Sweden saw a small increase in the number of deaths during the summer, but the number is now falling.
After having a high death toll at the beginning of the pandemic, the Nordic country now has fewer deaths per capita than the European average.