Health

💉 Extra dose of Covid-19 vaccine needed for some

Despite the National Board of Health and Welfare urging all individuals over the age of 80 to get their refill dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, barely half of that age group have done so this spring.

The situation is worst in Stockholm, where only one in five has received the shot, according to Dagens Nyheter .

The National Board of Health and Welfare (FHM) urges all individuals over the age of 80 to get a refill dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, but only 47 percent of Swedes in that age group have done so this spring, according to statistics from the agency.

Varies by region

In addition, the number of boosters varies greatly between regions. For example, in Stockholm, only 21 percent of those over 80 have been vaccinated, while the comparable figure for Värmland is 77 percent.

"Our assessment is that the willingness to vaccinate does not vary as much in the country as availability has varied between regions," says Johanna Rubin, investigator at the National Board of Health and Welfare's unit for vaccination programs, to DN.

According to FHM, it is rather about the regions' efforts to reach out.

Elda Sparrelid, the chief physician in the Stockholm region, says in a comment to DN that they have sent reminder sms messages to the group:

"However, we do not carry out campaigns as large as we did when a larger portion of the population was affected. A larger campaign will come in the fall."

Since March 1, all individuals over the age of 80 and individuals who live in special residential facilities are recommended to get vaccinated with two refill doses during the year, one in spring and one in fall.