The European Union health agency has called on member states to "urgently" introduce measures to reduce the potentially "very high burden" from Covid-19 in December and January.
The director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Andrea Ammon, recommended Covid booster shots for all adults over the age of 18, "with a priority for people above 40 years old".
The agency also urged countries to increase their overall vaccination rates, especially those with low uptake. Under 70% of the overall population in the EU and the European Economic Area (Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland) have been fully vaccinated. "This leaves a large vaccination gap that cannot be bridged rapidly and gives ample room for the virus to