Drop 15 minute wait to speed up booster process, experts say

Photo: DutchNews.nl
Photo: DutchNews.nl

Dutch government health advisors want to drop the compulsory 15 minute wait after a coronavirus vaccination, saying many more people could be given a booster if the waiting time was set aside.

The pause was introduced as a precaution to spot people who might have an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

Family doctors have also said the 15 minute wait should go because then they too could vaccinate people in their surgeries. ‘If we did not have it, we could vaccinate five times as many people,’ Amsterdam doctor Bart Meijman told broadcaster NOS.

The Netherlands is trailing the rest of the EU in terms of booster vaccinations, but aims to have given everyone a top up dose by mid January.

Currently the over 60s, many of whom were given the AstraZeneca vaccine, have priority in booking a booster jab but many have not yet been able to, or are being sent to different towns for their dose.

In addition, some 280,000 over 60s have not been able to make an appointment until January, according to regional health board figures.

The regional health board association GGD GHOR said on Saturday that when extra capacity has been created, the over 60s will be alerted by text message to bring forward their appointment.

The booster system will be opened up to everyone to make an appointment from next week.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation