Since 2023, vaccination against COVID-19 has been offered annually to protect vulnerable groups from serious illness and death due to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At the request of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Health Council of the Netherlands has assessed whether adjustments are needed to the target groups for vaccination.
The council recommends vaccination for people over 70. Furthermore, as in previous years, the council recommends offering vaccination to people who are at increased risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 due to underlying conditions. It concerns people aged 50 to 69 from medical risk groups, and adults and children from medical high-risk groups.
As in previous years, it is also advised to offer vaccination to healthcare workers who have direct contact with vulnerable patients, in order to protect these patients.
This advice from the Health Council to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport applies to vaccination in the autumn of 2026 and in the autumn of 2027.