Norway Now Recommends Boosters Mostly to Those Aged Over 65
The booster strategy adopted by Norway focuses on those above age 65. In contrast, in Sweden, even those aged 18–49 are still expected to to be offered booster doses.
While Florida just announced it now recommends against vaccination and boosters for males under the age of 40, Denmark had already taken the bolder step of not recommending them for those under the age of 50.
But Denmark is not alone with such bolder recommendation. Norway now restricts vaccination and boosters through age and risk stratification, mostly limiting new vaccinations / boosters to those above the age of 65.
“The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) recommends a booster dose of coronavirus vaccine before the coming autumn/ winter season to adults aged 65 years and above,” states the health agency website, adding,
For those aged 18-64 years, it is only recommended for those “with underlying risk of a severe disease course” while for those aged 12-17 years, it is only recommended for those “with severe underlying conditions.”
The chief of the health agency, Preben Aavitsland, commented on the new recommendations to the abc/nyheter media outlet.
“Advanced age is clearly the most important risk factor. We therefore recommend that everyone over 65 take a booster as soon as possible, and we assess whether there is a need for healthy people in the 45-64 age group.”
“For healthy people under the age of 45, there will hardly ever be a recommendation for more coronavirus doses,” said Aavitsland.
“Thus, healthy Norwegians under the age of 45 have probably taken their last vaccine dose.”
Pregnant Women Still Advised to Take the Shot
Despite these statements by the chief of the health agency, still today, one can find on the agency’s website that “pregnant women in their second and third trimesters” are recommended to take the booster shot.
This is surprising because not only are they typically younger than age 45 and don’t have an “underlying risk of a severe disease course,” but also because of the well documented risks.
James A. Thorpe, MD. Board Certified Ob/Gyn & Maternal Fetal Medicine, addressing the recent World Council for Health Vienna conference, actually recommended a world-wide moratorium for this particular group, given the magnitude of serious adverse events - a sharp contrast with the Norwegian recommendation.
And What about Sweden?
It must be noted that Sweden, well known to have departed from most countries regarding lockdowns, is not (yet?) following Denmark’s or Norway’s approaches.
The official Swedish guidance is that “People younger than 65 should receive their booster dose no earlier than six months after their first two initial doses” while “The booster dose is to be given to people aged 65 or above no earlier than five months after their first two initial doses.”
A booster roll-out is presently taking place in Sweden: “on 28 September, the Public Health Agency took the decision to recommend booster doses for the following groups, in order of priority: - people aged 80 and above (born 1941 or earlier); people who live in care homes for older people; people whose municipality has granted them home help care, and people who receive medical care in the home.”
“Regional vaccine uptake of at least 60 per cent in the 50–64 age group should be achieved before the next group (18–49 year olds) are offered their booster dose.”
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