In the period from 4 April 2023 to 29 May 2023, the risk of hospital admission for people aged 60 years and older who received a repeat vaccination against COVID-19 in the autumn round was 37% lower than for people over 60 who had previously received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, but had not received a repeat vaccination in the autumn round. No difference could be detected in the risk of ICU admission for people who did or did not have the repeat vaccination in autumn 2022. This may possibly be related to the low number of ICU admissions at the moment. Since early March, a downward trend has been observed in the number of COVID-19 hospital admissions and ICU admissions in all age groups, regardless of vaccination status. From 4 April to 29 May 2023, the incidence of hospital admissions was lowest for people who received a repeat vaccination in the autumn round.
People who do not have the same vaccination status may also have differences in vulnerability (underlying health conditions), the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections they have had, and the number of COVID-19 vaccinations they received before the autumn round. A comparison between the relative risk of hospital admission between people with a different vaccination status therefore cannot be exclusively used to indicate vaccine effectiveness for the repeat vaccination in the autumn round.
Everyone who has been invited to get a COVID-19 vaccination in the basic series, but has not yet done so, can still be vaccinated. In addition, since 19 September 2022, it is possible to get a repeat vaccination against COVID-19. This repeat vaccination in the autumn round is available to everyone aged 12 years and older who has at least completed the basic series of COVID-19 vaccinations. The vaccination is available from 3 months after the most recent COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection.