Dutch Health Council advises raising Coronavirus booster age to 70
The Health Council of the Netherlands recommends increasing the minimum age for the yearly coronavirus booster from 60 to 70. Individuals in their 60s would still be eligible if their health makes vaccination advisable, but age alone would no longer be enough to qualify.
The final decision rests with the Minister of Public Health. The Health Council says that starting at age 70, the likelihood that people will need to be hospitalized after contracting coronavirus rises.
People in their 60s could still receive the vaccination if other medical conditions put them at greater risk in the event of infection. The council recommends offering the booster to individuals in their 50s and 60s who fall into “medical risk groups,” such as those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Dementia, or an intellectual disability.
The vaccination should also be offered to all children and adults who belong to “medical high-risk groups.” This category includes individuals with conditions such as Leukemia, Sickle Cell Disease, and Kidney Failure, along with people who have immune system disorders, those with Down syndrome, or people who are severely obese.
The recommendation covers both the vaccination campaign scheduled for this fall and the one planned for the fall of 2027. Last year, the Health Council concluded that people aged 18–49 who already get the yearly influenza vaccine do not necessarily need the coronavirus booster. A year earlier, pregnant women had already been taken off the eligibility list.
The most recent vaccination round took place from September through December. Roughly 2.25 million people responded to the invitation and were vaccinated, a slight decrease compared with the previous year, when over 2.5 million people received a booster. In 2023, the total had been even higher, with more than 2.7 million coronavirus vaccinations administered.
In a letter to the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, Public Health Minister Sophie Hermans said that the recommendation for 2026 will be followed. As a result, everyone in the identified groups will be able to get vaccinated this fall. However, the PVV minister has not yet arranged the funding needed to provide the vaccination in 2027.
