Elderly people, high-risk patients, pregnant women and healthcare staff should do well to get an extra Covid-19 booster shot in October, but there is no need for healthy young people to do so, as per new advice by the Superior Health Council.
The new advice, requested by Belgium's health ministers, states that there is no specific need for healthy children, young people and adults under 65 to get an extra booster shot this autumn.
"Routine vaccination is not recommended," the advice reads. "People can of course get a booster dose if they wish, but this is purely an individual decision, not based on a scientific recommendation on the usefulness of vaccination for them."
Therefore, while the entire Belgian population received an invitation to get their fourth Covid-19 shot in autumn 2022, this will no longer be the case this year.
Covid on the left, flu on the right
The Council does, however, see the benefit of a new Covid-19 shot for all Belgians who are at higher risk of serious complications after an infection: all people aged 65 and over, people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women. People in regular contact with these higher-risk groups, such as healthcare personnel and those living with patients with severely weakened immune systems, are also advised to get a booster shot.
Additionally, they recommend getting vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 at the same time, "preferably in October." To monitor any side effects, the Covid shot should be given in the left arm and the flu shot in the right arm.
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The question is whether updated vaccines will be on the market by October. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants vaccine manufacturers to launch a new version in the autumn to target the virus variants currently circulating, the Health Council makes no mention of it.
Now, the Superior Health Council's advice goes to Belgium's various health ministers, who will meet next Wednesday to discuss the organisation of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the autumn.
