Following an advisory report by the Health Council of the Netherlands, Minister De Jonge decided on 6 July 2021, effective as of 16 July, that people who had received one vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine could opt for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for their second jab.
Starting at 10:00 on Friday 16 July, people born in 1956 or before can make an appointment with the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) by calling 0800-7070. In the following days, people from successive birth years who would like to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as their second vaccination will be given the opportunity to make an appointment, from 10:00 on.
The planned distribution per day and birth year is as follows:
- Friday 16 July – people born in 1956 or before
- Saturday 17 July – people born in 1957
- Monday 19 July – people born in 1958
- Tuesday 20 July – people born in 1959
- Wednesday 21 July – people born in 1960
- Thursday 22 July – anyone over 18 years old
Options for opening up earlier will be explored in the next few days.
Research
Recent antibody research in the UK has shown that the combination of a first vaccination with AstraZeneca and a second vaccination with Pfizer/BioNTech offers the same effective protection against serious illness as two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
People who experienced a serious side-effect (TTS or capillary leak syndrome) or allergic reaction after one dose of AstraZeneca, and are therefore not allowed to receive a second dose of AstraZeneca, should also not be given a second jab with the Pfizer vaccine. It is not yet known whether the mRNA vaccination might reinforce the side-effect or allergic reaction. This group is advised not to get a second vaccination for the time being.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is used by the GGD and by GPs. People who have a second vaccination scheduled with their GP and would like to cancel that appointment are requested to inform their GP by email.
To obtain a QR code in the CoronaCheck app, both vaccinations must be registered.