New corona variant dominant in the Netherlands, vaccine adjustment recommended | Domestic

JN.1 was first observed in our country at the beginning of October last year. After that, the number of infections increased rapidly. At the beginning of December, more than half of the corona infections involved JN.1.

JN.1 has now overgrown the other variants, the European Medicines Agency says. This variant is slightly different from the previous dominant version. As a result, JN.1 managed to circumvent the built-up defense against the virus. Previous variants of the virus could also spread in this way.

Because the virus is continuously adapting, vaccines must also be adapted accordingly. According to the RIVM, there are no indications that people become more seriously ill from JN.1 than from previous variants.

People with medical risks can be vaccinated against COVID-19 every fall. These include, for example, people with Down syndrome, people with an immune disorder, healthcare workers and the elderly. Pregnant women could also get a shot last fall, but according to the RIVM, this is no longer necessary.

Since the peak in December, the number of infections in the Netherlands has fallen rapidly, according to measurements in sewage water. There are also hardly any people with the coronavirus in hospitals.

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