Repeat vaccination against coronavirus

Getting a repeat vaccination

If you got your repeat vaccination after 18 September 2022, you are sufficiently protected against severe illness, hospital admission or death as a result of Covid-19. You do not have to get another repeat dose from the municipal health service (GGD). People in certain at-risk groups may require an extra repeat dose, however. These individuals can be referred for repeat vaccination by their doctor.

If you have received your primary vaccination series, you can get a repeat vaccination. Go to coronatest.nl/en or call 0800 7070. There are many locations where you can get vaccinated without making an appointment. If you want to know where these are, go to the prikkenzonderafspraak.nl website. If you got your repeat vaccination after 18 September 2022, you are sufficiently protected. You do not have to get another repeat dose from the GGD.

No new round of repeat vaccinations in the spring

There will be no new round of repeat vaccinations in the spring. This is because Covid-19 has become endemic. There is also a high level of immunity in the population, and the dominant Omicron variant does not cause serious illness in most people. New repeat vaccinations would therefore offer very limited additional protection.

People in certain at-risk groups may require an extra repeat dose, however. These individuals can be referred by their attending doctor.

The coronavirus situation is being closely monitored by RIVM, the GGD and other experts. They publish weekly updates about developments. The Outbreak Management Team on Vaccination (OMT-V) can advise the government on whether a new round of vaccinations is necessary.

Repeat vaccination with updated vaccines

The mRNA vaccines developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna have been adapted to offer better protection against other coronavirus variants, like Omicron. The updated vaccines have been used for repeat vaccination since 18 September 2022. 

There are 2 updated vaccines:

• A vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.1 variant (Moderna or BioNTech/Pfizer)
• A vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.4/5 variant (BioNTech/Pfizer).

Studies show that both vaccines are effective in protecting against severe illness and death due to coronavirus.

See an explanation in plain English of the benefits and disadvantages of Spikevax repeat vaccine (Moderna)
See an explanation in plain English of the benefits and disadvantages of Comirnaty repeat vaccine (BioNTech/Pfizer)

You cannot choose which updated vaccine you will get

Currently, the updated vaccine targeting the BA.1 variant is being used. Soon, vaccination with the BA.4/5 vaccine will start. This webpage will be updated when the exact date is known.

Repeat vaccination after completed primary series

You must have completed your primary vaccination series before you can receive a repeat vaccine. A primary series is:

• 2 doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax or AstraZeneca vaccine; or
• 1 dose of the BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax or AstraZeneca vaccine after a coronavirus infection; or
• 1 dose of the Janssen  (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

If you have not completed the primary vaccination series, or have not yet been vaccinated against coronavirus at all, you can still do so. Phone the GGD on 0800 7070 to make an appointment.  

Repeat vaccination after 18 September 2022 still valid

If you got a repeat dose after 18 September 2022, you are still sufficiently protected, even if this is now more than 3 months ago. You are not eligible for another repeat vaccination from the GGD at this time.
The coronavirus situation is being closely monitored by RIVM, the GGD and other experts. They publish weekly updates about developments. The Outbreak Management Team on Vaccination (OMT-V) can advise the government on whether a new round of vaccinations is necessary.

Repeat vaccination extra important for people in at-risk groups and health and care workers

Repeat vaccination is particularly important for people who have a higher risk of severe Covid-19 and health and care professionals who work directly with patients or clients. They have received a personal invitation to make an appointment for repeat vaccination.

People who have a higher risk of severe Covid-19 are:

• People aged 60 and over
• People aged 12 to 59 who are eligible for the annual flu jab
• People living in residential care facilities
• People with Down’s syndrome.

If you cannot come to the GGD vaccination centre

If it is impossible for you to come to a GGD vaccination centre, ask your GP if you can get vaccinated at home. 

Did you receive an invitation to get a repeat vaccination in spring 2022?

The following groups of people were invited in spring 2022 to get a repeat vaccination. At that time, only original vaccines (rather than updated ones) were being used: :

• people aged 60 and over (including people turning 60 in 2022)
• nursing home residents
• adults with Down’s syndrome
• adults with a severely weakened immune system.

If you fall into one of these groups, you can get a repeat vaccination with the updated vaccine if it has been 3 months since your last vaccination or coronavirus infection. 

Repeat vaccination protects against severe illness

Getting a repeat vaccination is extra important for you because you have a higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19. This is because your immune system is weakened. Repeat vaccination keeps you well-protected against serious illness and hospital admission.

Repeat coronavirus vaccination and flu jab

Have you also received an invitation to get the annual flu jab? It is safe for you to get the repeat dose and the flu jab shortly after one another. Or even on the same day. You get the repeat vaccination from the municipal health service (GGD). The flu jab is administered by your family doctor. That is why you received two different invitations.

Invitation for pregnant women to get repeat vaccination

If you are pregnant, your obstetrician or gynaecologist will send you an invitation to get the repeat vaccination. Make sure it has been 3 months since your last vaccination or coronavirus infection. You can make an appointment online, using your DigiD. Or call 0800 7070.

There are many locations where you can get vaccinated without making an appointment. If you want to know where these are, go to the prikkenzonderafspraak.nl website.