Spain extends vaccine booster doses to everyone over 18 years of age
The Spanish Ministry of Health and the health authorities of the autonomous regions have approved expanding the administration of booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to people between 18 and 39 years of age.
As explained on Thursday by the Minister of Health Carolina Darias, vaccination in these groups will begin with the oldest people. The government says it will prioritize the most vulnerable people and those who were vaccinated the longest.
The central government also announced the reduction to 5 months of the period between the administration of the second and third dose, instead of the six months in force until now.
The decision has been made at the proposal of the Vaccines Conference. According to Minister Darias, it responds to the current epidemiological situation and is in line with what other European countries are doing.
For the booster dose, messenger RNA vaccines - Pfizer or Moderna - will be administered. The third dose may be of a different vaccine from the one used in the initial regimen, as it is considered safe.
Vaccination campaign
The commission insisted that the vaccination of people aged 12 and over who have not yet been vaccinated or have not completed their primary vaccination is considered a priority. And the administration of booster doses in previously recommended population groups is also a priority.
A booster dose will also be administered to people who make international trips for study or work reasons in which the administration of a booster dose is required (justifying its need). Finally, people who received an additional dose of mRNA vaccine because they are included in Group 7 or are people receiving treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (Update 9 of the Strategy) will receive a booster dose 5 months after the last dose.
The last time that the Spanish health authorities extended the vaccination strategy was on 16 December, when the third dose was approved for people between 40 and 59 years of age.