Rollout for Covid vaccine fourth dose open

The rollout for the Covid-19 fourth dose began on Monday in Catalonia, as the Spanish health ministry announced on September 8.

Care home residents and people aged 80 and over are the first ones to receive the jab, considering their vulnerability.

Those over 60 could receive the dose before the end of the year, as stated by the same ministry in July.

For some care home residents and people aged 80 or over, the fourth dose will be given one year after the booster shot, as third jabs started being administered in September 2021.

Those who get a booking to receive the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will also be administered the annual flu jab. 

On Monday, the Catalan health minister, Josep Maria Argimon, celebrated that the campaign takes place in a "normal" situation compared to the "speed needed" when administering the first vaccines in 2020.

Catalan vaccine Hipra

In August, Catalan health minister, Josep Maria Argimon, did not rule out the Catalan Covid-19 Hipra as one of the brands that could serve for the rollout of the fourth dose. 

At the moment, it is waiting for authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). However, in August, the European Commission announced a deal to buy over 250 million doses of Hipra's vaccine.

In late March, the European authority started a rolling review of the vaccine, made by the Catalan pharmaceutical corporation of the same name.

Hipra stated in July that the jab is responding well to the Omicron subvariants (BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5) that appeared in summer.

Currently, over 90% of those aged over 80 have received a booster shot.