Covid-19: Dubai’s DHA to offer third dose of Pfizer vaccine for certain categories

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will begin administering a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems, it has announced.

Individuals who are above the age of 12 and fall under certain categories are eligible to receive the booster dose, the DHA said.

The eligible categories include:

• People with moderately to severely compromised immune systems

• Individuals who have an active tumor and hematologic malignancy or have recently received treatment for the same

• Recipients of a solid organ transplant or patients who have undergone Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)

• People who suffer from a severe case of primary immunodeficiency

• Patients with advanced or untreated HIV

• Patients undergoing active treatment with agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory

“The move is aimed at boosting immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from Covid-19,” a statement said.

The DHA noted that in some cases, even patients suffering from immune-related diseases might not need a third dose of the vaccine.

It advised patients to first consult their treating physicians in a government or private hospital in Dubai in order to get their case assessed.

If a third dose is required, their physicians will book the appointment for them in the same hospital.

Citizens and residents (whose residency visas are issued in Dubai) who have received treatment for their conditions outside the city, will have to obtain an attested medical report approved by their treating physician in order to receive the third dose.

In order to confirm their eligibility for the third dose, they will have to book a consultation appointment with a DHA family medicine doctor or request a telemedicine consultation.

Meanwhile the authority also stressed that according to international studies, individuals who are fully vaccinated and do not have an immune disease “will not need to take an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine for now”.

It said that an announcement will be made in case there were any new developments.

Last month, Abu Dhabi announced that Pfizer and Sinopharm booster shots would be available for those who were vaccinated against Covid-19 at least six months ago.

The shots are available in over 100 centres in the emirate for citizens and residents, it said.

Read more: Abu Dhabi makes Pfizer, Sinopharm booster shots available