Recommendation for continued vaccination of priority groups

The Public Health Agency has been commissioned by the government to produce a national plan for vaccination against covid-19. The assignment includes a recommendation for a priority order for vaccination, which in itself depends on the availability of approved vaccine. This recommendation is a partial report in the government assignment.

The purpose of prioritizing certain groups is to first provide protection to those who have greatest risk of becoming seriously ill or dying in covid-19. This document describes various risk factors and the Public Health Agency's considerations regarding priorities groups for phase 2, 3 and 4.

The risk of suffering from serious illness and death in covid-19 has been shown to be affected by age and socioeconomics. Therefore, these aspects are the starting points for vaccination in all phases.

• Phase 2 is extended to include people 65 years and older as well as people who are between 18 years and 64 years with dialysis treatment and people who have undergone bone marrow transplantation or other organ transplantation. Even theirs household contacts are given priority.
• In phase 3, vaccination against covid-19 is recommended for everyone aged 60–64 and up those who are 18–59 years old and have one or more underlying diseases or conditions which may increase the risk of serious illness. This also includes people 18- 59 years who for various reasons have difficulty protecting themselves against infection, for example people with dementia and cognitive or mental disabilities and people living in socially disadvantaged situations.
• The fourth and final phase includes people 18 years and older and who do not prioritized in previous phases.

The Swedish Public Health Agency does not recommend general vaccination of pregnant women women, nor to children and young people 0-17 years. An individual assessment can be made by the attending physician if the pregnant woman or child has an illness or a conditions that may increase the risk of serious illness