The fourth dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus should be given to people over 60 years of age, as well as younger people, who are at greater risk of severe forms of covid-19 infection.
This is the recommendation of the National Expert Advisory Body for Immunizations (NITAG) from the end of last month.
The recommendations state that the second booster dose is recommended at least four months after the third dose for people who received a vaccine that was given in two doses (Pfizer, Moderna, Sinofarm, Sinovak, Astra Zeneka, Sputnik V) or as the third dose for vaccines that were received in one dose (J&J vaccine).
The fourth dose is recommended for all persons over the age of 60, persons aged between 18 and 15 with chronic diseases, and adults who do not belong to the mentioned groups can also receive it.
"As the fourth dose (second booster dose) of the vaccine, mRNA vaccines are recommended - Pfizer is recommended for people under 40 years old, and Modern or Pfizer vaccine is recommended for people over 40 years old," the recommendations say.
NITAG does not recommend vaccination with the fourth dose for citizens who received three doses of the J&J vaccine with one booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, but also for those who have recovered from covid since the beginning of the year.
NITAG recommends mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna), followed by vector (Astra Zeneka, J&J, Sputnjik V) and inactivated (Sinofarm and Sinovak) vaccines to all persons. For people over 50 years of age, mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) are particularly strongly recommended for immunization, while for people under 40 years of age preference should be given to the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer.
When it comes to the third dose, NITAG recommends it for all people over the age of 12, three to five months after the second dose or two months after immunization with the J&J vaccine.
All persons are recommended to receive the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) as the third dose, regardless of the type of vaccine they previously received...
Other types of vaccines (inactivated - Sinofarm, Sinovak, vector - Astra Zeneca, Sputnik V) are not recommended by NITAG for the third dose (especially for persons older than 50 years) due to lower immunogenicity compared to mRNA vaccines and can be received only on personal request .
Persons who are clinically vulnerable can receive the third dose already a month after the second dose, while those who are fully vaccinated and have recovered from covid-19 should wait three to six months after recovery to receive a booster dose.
The advice of NITAG is that all pregnant women should be vaccinated, especially those who have hypertension, diabetes, are over 35 years old and are exposed to an increased risk of infection in the workplace. It is recommended that they be vaccinated during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, but immunization can also be done in the first trimester. NITAG recommends the mRNA vaccine to pregnant women as well as breastfeeding women.
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