Spain: Fourth dose of vaccine against Covid-19 is coming - for everyone

Created: 06/21/2022, 11:20 am

By: Judith Finsterbusch

Spain wants to protect the general population against Covid-19 with a fourth dose of vaccine.

This would make the country a pioneer - but the announcement causes confusion.

Madrid – The fourth dose of vaccine against Covid-19 will come, for everyone in Spain.

Health Minister Carolina Darias confirmed this in an interview with the television station “La Sexta”.

The Public Health Committee has already decided on the fourth dose, she said.

The minister's announcement caused confusion, after all, the same committee had actually decided on the fourth injection the previous week - but only for particularly vulnerable population groups, including seniors in retirement homes and over 80-year-olds, starting after the summer.

But now Darias spoke for the additional booster vaccination for the general population, probably from autumn, when the EU expects deliveries of corona vaccines after approval by the European Medicines Agency EMA.

adapted to newer virus variants.

The Ministry of Health then appeased that there is no specific date yet, but the fourth dose for everyone will come, reports costanachrichten.com.

Fourth dose of vaccine against Covid-19 in Spain: beyond experts

The administration of the fourth dose of vaccination against Covid-19 in Spain will continue as before, with all vaccine doses staggered according to age and risk groups.

So far, this additional booster was only a recommendation for certain risk groups, above all patients with immune diseases.

You've been getting your fourth injection since January, and the over-80s and residents of retirement homes should follow from the fall.

Apparently, Health Minister Carolina Darias wants to use this vaccination campaign as a prelude to gradually vaccinating younger people as well.

Spain would be the first country in the world to adopt the fourth dose of vaccine for the general population.

Israel, for example, has been injecting the booster into people over 60 and at risk patients since January, and the United States into the population aged 50 and over.

On the subject: Spain abolishes 3G regulations for travelers

The announcement by Spain's Prime Minister has now caused criticism because it came as a surprise and without the backing of experts.

The actual procedure would be that the Ponencia de vacunas, comparable to the German vaccination commission Stiko, first weighs the benefits and risks and then makes a recommendation.

However, this recommendation is still pending for the fourth dose of vaccine against Covid-19.

Spain's Health Minister Carolina Darias has announced the fourth dose of vaccine for everyone.

© Borja Puig de la Bellacasa/Moncloa

So far, it was assumed in Spain that the vaccination against Covid-19 would be administered in the long term in a similar way to that against the flu: once a year, adapted to new virus variants.

The flu vaccination is not recommended for the general population, but only for risk groups, including seniors over 60 years of age, pregnant women, the chronically ill or nursing staff.