Belgian Minister of Public Health Frank Vandenbroucke has declared a 7th wave of Covid-19 infections, urging citizens to make sure that they have had three doses of a vaccine against the infection.
During an address in the chamber of the Belgian parliament, the minister also announced that, as of July 18, general practitioners, pharmacists, and nurses will be able to administer Covid-19 vaccines.
"It should be possible for people who haven’t received a booster yet, or who have an immune problem, to get vaccinated by one of these three (health professionals)," Vandenbroucke said.
Furthermore, health care workers, such as hospital and nursing home staff, will soon be able to receive a fourth dose of Covid-19 booster to protect themselves from the new, more virulent strains of the virus. The government has previously announced that, except for the immunocompromised, it would not begin giving booster doses to the general population.
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This summer, Vandenbroucke said, there will be a big push to ensure vulnerable groups have received their third booster to ensure maximum protection.
New vaccination campaign in September
From September, a new vaccination campaign will utilise a combination of vaccination centres, hospitals, and nursing homes, as well as the three new types of medical professionals, to administer vaccines.
“Yes, we are in a 7th Covid wave,” the minister said. “But we have some hope that this 7th wave will come to a plateau relatively quickly…Those who have not had their 3rd injection must immediately make an appointment. And those who have an immunity problem must make an appointment for their 4th injection.”
Vandenbroucke also announced that the Council of Ministers would soon approve a legal framework for building ventilation requirements, aimed at reducing the spread of diseases indoors. The health minister hopes that these new ventilation measures will be enacted in Belgian schools by as early as September.
