Covid-19: Health ministry issues guidelines on eligibility, timelines for booster jabs in UAE

The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has issued guidebook on Covid-19 booster shots, encouraging all eligible individuals to receive their jabs.

Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, official spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector, urged people who took the Sinopharm vaccine, especially the most vulnerable categories, such as people with chronic diseases and those aged over 50, to take their booster shot three months after their second dose, adding all other people over the age of 16 should take the booster six months after their second dose.

Last month, MoHAP approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm CNBG’s new recombinant protein vaccine. Produced and distributed by Hayat Biotech, a JV between G42 and Sinopharm CNBG, it is now available to the public as a booster dose.

Read: UAE approves new Sinopharm vaccine to be used as booster jabs

“For those who received the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine, it is recommended for all individuals aged 18 and above to take their booster shot of the same vaccine six months after taking their second dose, while those who received are required to take the booster shot of either the same or another vaccine six months after taking their second dose,” she added, according to state-run news agency WAM.

الجرعات الداعمة ضرورية لكبار السن والمصابين بالأمراض المزمنة.

Booster doses are vital for the elderly and those with chronic diseases.#وزارة_الصحة_ووقاية_المجتمع_الإمارات#كوفيد_19#كوفيد19#mohap_uae#covid19#covid_19 pic.twitter.com/mSRwwkeXB2

— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) January 5, 2022

Those who took other types of Covid-19 vaccines have been advised to head to the nearest vaccination centre to learn the type of booster they are required to take.

“Studies have shown vaccine doses and booster shots help significantly reduce the rates of hospitalisation and death and reduce the virus’ mutations into new variants,” she further said.

“We urge eligible individuals to take booster shots to protect themselves, especially elderly people and those with chronic diseases, to support the national efforts to contain the pandemic and the variants,” said Dr. Al Ghaithi.

She also urged community members to take regular Covid-19 PCR tests, especially before family visits and meeting elderly people, and refrain from handshaking and other forms of physical greetings.

She noted that the rate of fully vaccinated individuals in the country has reached 92.31 per cent.

On Wednesday, MoHAP noted that that 29,880 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were administered over the previous 24 hours.

The total number of doses provided up to today stands at 22,750,991 with a vaccine distribution rate of 230.03 doses per 100 people.