While Brussels' autumn vaccination campaign to administer second boosters is starting as planned on Monday, the general population in the Capital Region will not be able to get a fourth dose until October.
Unlike Flanders, Brussels is not sending out invitations to all eligible adults but only to over-50s, immunocompromised people and healthcare staff. From Monday, those who received an invitation and made an appointment will be able to get vaccinated.
"From 1 October, the second boosters will also be made available to all other over-18s who are eligible – meaning those who received their previous dose at least three months ago – with or without an appointment," France Dammel, spokesperson for the Brussels health authorities, said during a press conference on Friday.
As during the previous campaigns, Brussels residents will be able to get vaccinated by their GP, at pharmacies, medical centres or the vaccination centres in Forest, Pacheco, Molenbeek and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.
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"By getting vaccinated, we have the best chance of ensuring a 'normal' winter, without restrictions," Dammel explained. The booster doses that will be used are the recently approved modified vaccines that also include the Omicron BA.1 strain.
"These vaccines better match the variants that are currently circulating," she said. "Studies show that the vaccines specifically adapted to BA.1 induce a wider immune response in people who have already been vaccinated before."
More information about the use of a fourth vaccine dose can be found here.
