So when will it be your turn to get the coronavirus vaccine? The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which are currently being rolled out in the Netherlands, are primarily aimed at protecting the most vulnerable groups in society.

If you are not among them, the most likely vaccine to – eventually – enter your bloodstream will be the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, which, approval pending, is expected to be ready for action later next month. Not that it matters, because you do not get to choose your vaccine (see below).

When it’s time for your population group to be vaccinated, you’ll get an invitation, either by letter or email. It will say what you have to take with you (such as your ID). It will also tell you where you can get the vaccination. This could be at a large vaccination centre run by the regional  health service (GGD), at your doctor’s office or, for instance, in a nursing home.

Vaccinations are free and not compulsory.

So when can you expect to get your letter or email inviting you to bare arms? Here’s the official schedule so far.

From January 6:

• Staff working in (small scale) residential homes
• Staff working in disabled care
• District nurses and other home support staff
• Acute (COVID) care hospital and ambulance staff

From January 18:

• Residents in care homes and people with mental disabilities (Pfizer/BioNTech)

From January 25:

• People who live in (small scale) residential homes and care homes for the disabled. (Moderna)
• People aged 90 and over living at home and who are mobile. (Pfizer/BioNTech)
• Family doctors (Moderna)

From February 1:

• People aged between 85 and 90 living at home and who are mobile. (Pfizer/BioNTech)

From February 15:

• Psychiatric patients in residential care. (Moderna)
• People aged 60 plus who are housebound. (Moderna)
• People between 18 and 60 with a medical indication. (AstraZeneca)
• People from age 60 living at home and who are mobile (Pfizer/BioNTech)

From May:

• Everyone between 18 and 60 without medical indications. (AstraZeneca)

Young children and teens up to 18 will not be vaccinated because not all vaccines have been tested for this age group. Pfizer/BioNTech is the only vaccine that is suitable for people from 16 and upwards. Research is underway to determine if a safe vaccine for children can be developed.

Source: Rijksoverheid

More information from Government.nl. Please note this has not been updated to reflect the decision to speed up the vaccination programme be extending the gap between the first and second doses.