Iceland’s school employees who received the Janssen vaccine are being offered a booster shot of Pfizer at Suðurlandsbraut 34 in Reykjavík starting today. All Reykjavík area residents that received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine against COVID-19 will receive a booster shot of Pfizer before August 20, Director of Capital Area Health Centres Óskar Reykdalsson stated this morning.
Óskar says there has been additional strain on healthcare workers recently, as vaccination efforts ramp up after a summer pause and COVID-19 testing increases in response to the growing rate of infection. Some staff has been called in from summer vacations to lighten the workload. Óskar says that staff are taking it well. “[They] are motivated to save and stop this pandemic.” Members of at-risk groups as well as the elderly who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will also be offered a booster shot.
The Icelandic Medicines Agency has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds, and local health authorities are now reviewing whether to recommend vaccination for the demographic before the school year begins at the end of this month. “They are of school age and parents must consent. Though vaccination may happen in schools parental consent must be given,” Deputy Chief Epidemiologist Kamilla S. Jósefsdóttir stated. “We are going to discuss with health centres how best to organise the administration, information campaign, and other things.”
