Sweden is to to offer the Covid-19 vaccine booster to additional groups of the population.
All fully vaccinated Swedes over the age of 65 and also caregivers - a total of around 1.5 million people - will be recommended a third jab, Health Minister Lena Hallengren told a news conference in Stockholm on Wednesday.
Until now, the booster jab had only been offered to some risk groups, such as people over 80 and those in need of care.
This third vaccination dose could be received six months after the second one at the earliest.
The head of the health authority, Johan Carlson, added that other groups will also have their turn in the future. First the elderly, then gradually the younger age groups.
Restrictions lifted
Sweden lifted the vast majority of coronavirus restrictions in the country less than a month ago.
Hallengren stressed that the high vaccination rates are the reason why people can live as normal a life as possible at the moment. Carlson noted, however, that the pandemic is still not over.
The Covid-19 vaccine is offered to all citizens over the age of 12 in Sweden, a country with a population of 10 million people. More than 80% of all inhabitants over the age of 16 have been fully vaccinated in the country so far.
