AstraZenica’s much maligned supply chain is finally kicking into gear
The vaccination of elderly people in the province of Groningen will gain momentum from next Friday, reports RTV Noord. From then on, there is reportedly likely to be a much greater availability of AstraZenica vaccines in the province of Groningen.
GPs in Groningen will soon be able to vaccinate not only the 63/64 year olds against the Coronavirus, but also people aged 61/62 years old. On Tuesday it was announced that additional vaccines from AstraZeneca are to be made available following several weeks of delays.
Naturally, in the south of the Netherlands, GPs started vaccinating as early as mid-February. Since then, the vaccine has been rolled out across the Netherlands, with the North being the last. There was also the delay in between, due to concerns about side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Groningen GPs have now been told that they can order a vaccine at the end of this week. In addition, there is enough of a supply to also invite younger people over 60, too. Everyone from the years of birth 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 is to be contacted by their GP for a vaccination appointment.
GP Roland Riemersma says: “for the Health Center Overdiep in Appingedam, this involves five hundred people. We will dispense the vaccines as soon as possible once we have them in”.
People that are obese, or have Down’s Syndrome will also receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from their general practitioner in the coming weeks.
The RIVM also reports on Tuesday that AstraZeneca will be available this week for hospital employees that provide Coronavirus care, but have not yet been vaccinated. In January, 40,000 hospital employees in acute care were vaccinated nationwide; but that was by no means everyone. There are just under 40,000 more waiting their turn.
