Due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases, the use of the 4th dose of the vaccine in people over 40 years of age should be announced by the Ministry of Health in the coming days. This measure was discussed this Thursday (16) during the PNI (National Program on Immunization) meeting. The official announcement is yet to be dated.

In early June, the Ministry of Health recommended the 4th dose of the immunizer for people over 50 years of age. Since then, people in this age group who have already taken their 1st booster dose (3rd dose) more than four months ago are now eligible for enhanced protection.

The reason for the expansion of vaccination, according to the Ministry of Health, is the increase in the transmission of Covid-19 – Photo: PMF/Disclosure/ND

On this occasion, the government stressed that it would like to vaccinate, especially workers over 50 who are at the forefront of health services, at increased risk of infection. Pfizer, Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines are used regardless of the previously administered dose.

The reason for the expansion of vaccination, according to the Ministry of Health, is the increase in the transmission of Covid-19 with an increase in the number of serious cases, hospitalizations and deaths, mainly observed in places where vaccination coverage has not reached ideal levels.

“While there is little data to date on the magnitude and duration of benefit from a second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccines, different vaccination strategies should be used depending on the epidemiological situation and the availability of vaccines. The emergence of new options of concern and the upward trend in Covid-19 cases should also be taken into account, especially for recommendations to the most vulnerable and vulnerable groups,” reads the document signed by the Ministry’s Covid Secretariat. health.