Fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose open to everybody

Spain's Public Health Committee has opened the second Covid booster vaccination rollout to people under the age of 60 upon request. Until Thursday evening, only people over 60 and those who are pregnant or considered at-risk were allowed to get a fourth shot.

In the coming hours, Catalan primary healthcare centers will receive the final recommendations on how to proceed with the new protocol, as they will start administering these booster shots from Monday.

One of the main changes compared to previous vaccination appointment cycles will be the way to book a slot. From now on, people will have to check with their primary healthcare center instead of securing an appointment on the Covid vaccination website.

Second booster shots for people under 60 have "not been approved as a recommendation," but rather as a way of allowing "those who are willing to get the shot" to do so, sources from the Catalan health department said to this media outlet.

People will be able to get the shot if they wish to be more protected against coronavirus or if they want it for "administrative reasons, or other motives," the Spanish health ministry announced Thursday evening. Some of these reasons may include travel or caring for people at risk.

The committee also highlighted the importance of having at-risk people, such as those over 60 and care home residents or healthcare workers get a booster shot. 

From now on, children between the ages of six months and six years will also be able to get a pediatric Covid-19 shot if they are at risk.

Currently, the second booster vaccination rollout is slower than the first ones. In Catalonia, only 52.9% of those over 60 have received a fourth jab, as data released by the Catalan authorities show.