The Swedish health authority announced on Friday September 30 that it would no longer recommend vaccination against Covid-19 for adolescents aged 12 to 17 in good health, due to the “very low risk” of developing a severe form. disease at this age. The measure comes into force on October 31, said the Public Health Agency in a press release.
“The decision means that from November 1 the recommendation – and therefore the vaccination proposal – will apply only to minors in groups at risk for Covid-19”, she says. At the beginning of September, the United Kingdom had lifted its recommendation for children under 11 in good health.
Read also: In Sweden, no masks, no school closures, and the epidemic is at an all-time low
“Overall, we find that the need for Covid-19 care has been low among children and young people during the pandemic, and has also decreased since the appearance of the Omicron variant”, underlines the Swedish health authority. For those over 18, the Swedish recommendation is three doses. In the Nordic country, the fourth dose is recommended above 65 years.
Unlike most other countries in Europe, Sweden has refused to put in place health restrictions like confinement. Scientific data and various studies have shown that the Scandinavian nation would have suffered less damage from the virus and restrictions compared to countries that have implemented such measures.
On September 13, it was the Danish health authorities who announced their decision to no longer recommend anti-Covid vaccination for people under the age of 50. A decision which also concerns vaccine reminders.
Read also: Denmark: anti-Covid vaccination is no longer recommended for people under 50