Late last week, around one million doses of the vaccine were delivered to 42 drugs distributors, who in turn sent them to pharmacies. Another 273,000 doses were added later. Hospitals will receive 242,000 doses for their own staff and general practitioners have been given over 9,500 doses to administer to priority patients.

The cost of the vaccine is being paid by patients, then being fully reimbursed by health insurers. Municipal social aid agencies have been told to organise vaccination sessions so that homeless people in risk groups can be treated. Nine people have so far died in Belgium as a result of the virus, and tens of thousands of new cases are reported every month.