The Danish Health Authority has announced today that those with a weak immune system who have been already fully vaccinated can receive the third jab. The European country is not the first one to recommend so. Israel has already started administering booster shots, the U.S might begin this fall, and many other countries have taken the same decision. At the same time, the WHO and other experts believe that this might create a vaccine shortage for emerging countries and trigger more deaths. Hungary is already offering booster shots, and in South America, Chile will start in September. Belgium announced that immunocompromised people can receive a third shot. This means approx. 400,000 Belgian residents. Other European countries with plans to start administering booster shots are France, Germany, Austria, Romania, and Lithuania.
Who can qualify for a booster shot in Denmark?
According to the news outlets, those who have cancer, those receiving chemotherapy and other aggressive treatments, those with an organ transplant, and those with weak immune systems will receive the booster shot. Worldwide only around 4.6 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered. This means that in many countries, people are still waiting to receive the first dose.
African countries are still facing a vaccine shortage
The most recent statistics show that only 2 % of the people residing in the African continent are fully vaccinated. There has been a shortage of doses because many developed countries have pre-ordered many doses. Also, the massive outbreaks in India determined the Indian Government to stop export and focus on internal vaccination. It seems that the situation is improving, and more than 12 million doses arrived in Africa last month. The WHO Covax Programme wants to send Africa around 520 million doses by the end of the year.
