Overarching analyses of COVID-19 vaccination strategies in healthy and immunocompromised individuals: 'Lessons learned' from the ongoing pandemic

More than 80% of the Dutch population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinating individuals protects them from serious illness. Because the coronavirus adapts over time, protection became less. A booster vaccination was therefore offered for the first time at the beginning of 2022. The immune response induced by vaccination has been monitored in the healthy Dutch population by the Erasmus MC and the RIVM. In addition, 8 different research groups, led by medical specialists, have studied the immune response in patients with reduced immune systems. It is now possible to answer an important question: "Which vaccination strategy provides the best defense in healthy and immunocompromised individuals." By answering this question, advice for future booster vaccinations can be given per risk group. In addition, these lessons can be used to draw up vaccination recommendations in the event of future outbreaks.