Still not ‘trying what the pot is buying’
People in the early sixties who did not dare to take the AstraZeneca vaccine can now still receive another corona vaccine. This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
Until now, people aged 60 to 64 could only receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from their GP. Not everyone has used it. Some of the people were put off by the rare, but serious, thrombosis side effect of this vaccine. There even is drafted a petition, in which the 60-64-year-olds state that they would rather get the vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna. The petition has been signed more than 17,000 times. The minister did not listen. De Jonge said that people who did not dare to AstraZeneca should join ‘the back of the queue’. ‘It’s a matter of poking the pot,’ says the minister.
Which alternative
But the minister has turned around, because the 60-64 year-olds who have not been vaccinated can now still receive a corona vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna, via the GGD. The appointment can only be made online from Saturday 5 June, according to the minister’s statement. People who have already had the first vaccine of AstraZeneca should also take the second shot of AstraZeneca, because according to research this is the most effective and safe.
Janssen’s vaccine was not included in the options. There is also much to do here. The United States had inserted a prick break, due to a rare thrombosis side effect and Belgium is stopped the vaccine in people younger than 40 after the death of a woman with a thrombosis side effect. There are also delivery problems. In the Netherlands, certain birth years are assigned to the Janssen vaccine. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (birth year 1967) also received the vaccine from Janssen.
letters
The ministry will send a letter to all people over 60 who have not had a corona jab. This includes a repeat call to be vaccinated. Starting with the oldest group of over-90s. That they are not vaccinated can be for several reasons. Some people don’t want to be vaccinated anyway, others wanted another vaccine, and still others were sick with the first vaccine or didn’t get the first invitation. Almost half of the Dutch have had their first vaccination against corona. Research by the RIVM shows that 98% of the over-70s have been vaccinated or are willing to do so. That share is 85% among 55 to 70-year-olds. Because the records are not completely complete, some vaccinated people may still get a repeat call. “They can consider the letter not sent,” the ministry said.
