"The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) has updated norm 002/2021, concerning the vaccination campaign against Covid-19, recommending the administration of the booster dose to people aged 50 and over", announced the Health authority in communicated.

According to the DGS, self-scheduling for taking the vaccine will be available for people aged 60 years, and later extended to the age group of 50 years or more.

At this time, self-scheduling is open to people over 65, as well as children aged 10-11 who will be vaccinated next weekend and those over 50 who have taken the Janssen single-dose vaccine.

“National and international data suggest a decrease in the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines against the infection, especially six months after the completion of the primary vaccination course, although, according to current data, the effectiveness against severe disease remains” , the statement added.

The DGS and the Technical Commission on Vaccination against Covid-19 (CTVC) continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and available scientific information, and may update the recommendations in light of new data.

The DGS also updated the standard on influenza vaccination, providing that free vaccination will be extended, in the current context of pandemic, to people aged between 60 and 64 years.

So far 2.2 million people have been vaccinated against the flu, of which 1.7 million are over 65 years old.