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COVID-19 VACCINES

Half of Sweden’s population has received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose

More than 5 million people in Sweden have received at least their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, the latest update from the Public Health Agency showed on Tuesday.

Published: 6 July 2021 16:37 CEST
Half of Sweden's population has received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose
Vaccination underway in Malmö, where all over-18s will be able to book their slot from Tuesday evening. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

In total, 5,302,083 people have received one or both doses, based on what regions have reported to the National Vaccine Register.

That’s 64.7 percent of the adult population, according to the Public Health Agency, and just over half of the total population, according to figures from Statistics Sweden.

Of those, 3,430,420 have received both doses, which is 41.9 percent of the adult population.

Currently all the Covid-19 vaccines being used in Sweden require two doses, usually given with an approximately six-week interval, and the vaccines are primarily being given to adults only. Some, but far  from all regions, have opened up booking to all adults aged over 18, while others are still only vaccinating older age groups and those in risk groups.

Sweden has also said it will recommend vaccination for all over-16s, but vaccination of this age group is set to begin only after the vaccine has been offered to all eligible adults over the age of 18. The use of the Pfizer jab in children from the age of 12 was also approved, but only if there are special conditions such as belonging to a risk group.

Sweden currently expects all adults will have been offered their first dose by September 19th at the latest, after delaying the target multiple times due to smaller deliveries than expected.

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COVID-19 VACCINES

Sweden opens up fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine for over-80s

Sweden's Public Health Agency is now recommending a fourth vaccine dose for care home residents, recipients of at-home care, and over 80s, to be given at least four months after dose three.

Published: 14 February 2022 10:09 CET
Sweden opens up fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine for over-80s

Despite recently removing almost all Covid-19-related restrictions, the pandemic is still ongoing in Sweden, with the Public Health Agency describing the spread of infection in a press release as “intensive”.

There has also been an increase in the number of cases in groups of the population with an increased risk for serious illness, such as care home residents. 

In addition to this, the immune system’s ability to react to vaccinations and build up long-term protection against the virus becomes less effective with age.

In response to this, the Public Health Agency is now recommending that Swedish regions offer a second booster dose – representing a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine – to the following at-risk groups:

  • care home residents
  • recipients of at-home care
  • over 80s

Regions will be able to offer the dose four months after the first booster dose (dose three), at the earliest, starting from next week.

“A booster dose strengthens protection against the virus,” said state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell in a statement. “Therefore, we believe that people aged 80 and over will benefit from a second booster dose.”

First booster doses are available for over-18s in all Swedish regions. If you have not had yours yet and want to know how to book in your region, see The Local’s guide HERE.

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