Coronavirus vaccine to be offered to over-60s again this year

The Dutch health council is recommending a new round of coronavirus vaccinations for the over-60s and people at high risk this autumn.

The council said it expected the virus would flare up again in the winter and that vaccination remains the most effective protection against hospitalisation and death.

In the past couple of years, everyone over the age of 18 who was invited for a flu jab was also offered the coronavirus vaccine. However, this year the threshold has been raised to the over-50s.

The risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus has gone down for those aged 18 to 49, the agency said.

Healthcare workers who come into contact with people who are vulnerable to coronavirus will also be offered a jab.

This will be the third year that the coronavirus vaccination is offered to the public at the same time as the annual flu jab. Last year, some 2.5 million people were vaccinated in the autumn round, including 47% of the over 60s.

Earlier this month the AD published research showing an overwhelming majority of Dutch people have no regrets about being vaccinated against coronavirus during the pandemic.