Who can receive third dose of Covid vaccines?

A researcher and health expert revealed the groups that can receive the third dose of Covid vaccines.

Researcher and expert Dr. Osama al-Ani, told PUKmedia on Saturday, that according to the instructions of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, the third dose of Covid vaccines is given to the elderly, health cadres, and those with chronic diseases.”

Ani indicated that 6 months must pass over receiving the second dose of the Covid vaccine before taking the third dose.

He continued by saying that some health centers, as a matter of facilitation, give the third dose after 6 months have passed to the patients whose work requires great contact with citizens regardless of age and chronic diseases, pointing out that this issue is decided on by doctors at the health center, adding that it is not necessary for the doctor to agree to give the third dose.

Ani explained that scientifically it is permissible to mix two types of vaccines and there is no problem at all, preferring to receive the third dose of the type of Pfizer vaccine because it is available in most centers now.

Ani suggested that, during the coming period, it would be agreed to give a third dose to everyone, regardless of all the aforementioned conditions.

Covid cases have increased in Iraq after the health authorities recorded the new Omicron variant in the country. 

Omicron variant was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24 and was designated as a variant of concern two days later as it spread to several countries.

According to WHO, Omicron causes milder symptoms than the Delta variant.

So far, Iraq has recorded 2,110,683 cases and 24,242 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic.



PUKmedia