Manama: Saudi Arabia is considering only one vaccine dose for people who had covid-19, the Ministry of Health reported on Thursday.
The National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases in the country has decided that one COVID-19 vaccine dose should be sufficient for those who have previously been infected with the Covid -19.
The dose would be administered six months after their recovery from the Covid, and would be considered a “booster for their immunity, Al Arabiya TV quoted the health ministry as saying.
The Health Ministry launched of the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign across all regions of the Kingdom, adding that those wishing to take the vaccine can book an appointment through the Sehhaty app.
At this stage, priority will be given to those who register first according to the approved vaccine administration categories,” Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah, said in a tweet.
The second stage of the Kingdom’s Covid vaccination campaign targets people over 50 years, and health practitioners and those with one of the chronic diseases. It includes asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, active cancer, and those with obesity and a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 30 and 40.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) on Thursday approved the importation and use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against the coronavirus disease.
The SFDA gave clearance for the administration of the vaccine based on data provided by the manufacturers, but will test the vaccine once they receive the shipments, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi on Wednesday reported 327 new coronavirus cases and five deaths, bringing the total number of registered cases to 3,74,629, and the death toll to 6,450, according to the Ministry of Health.
