The Belgian Higher Health Council (CSS) advised that socially vulnerable individuals, including migrant workers, should be a priority group in the country's COVID-19 vaccination programme.

As a new phase of Belgium's vaccination programme begins, the CSS issued an advice note at the end of April stating that members of collectives, as well as socially vulnerable individuals, should be prioritised for vaccination. The definition of 'vulnerable individuals' includes - in addition to people in residence for severe mental disorders, intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities - homeless people, migrant workers, people living in precarious conditions, people suffering from drug addiction, undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, and sex workers.

A CSS spokesperson said: "The rapid implementation of vaccination of these groups via general practitioners and mobile teams, preferably with a single-dose vaccine, must also be accelerated as soon as possible", given that they are "not clearly reachable".

The Belgian vaccination plan has been modified several times. The government's current strategy aligns with the below image.

Find further information on the coronavirus and vaccination in Belgium here.