By Sue-Ann Wayow
PERSONS who have received a full complement of Covid-19 vaccine doses and are desirous of getting a booster shot do not have to wait on a scheduled time from the Ministry of Health anymore.
This was announced by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh who spoke on Wednesday at the Ministry of Health’s virtual Covid-19 update.
He said, “What we are doing now, now that we are comfortable with the numbers, we are doing away with the time slots.”
The booster programme is well into its fourth month and to date, more than 136,000 persons have received another shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Deyalsingh said, “For AstraZeneca vaccine, come in and get boosted six months after your second dose or anytime thereafter. AstraZeneca, just look at your vaccination card, go back six months after your second dose and come in and get boosted.”
Persons who received a Pfizer vaccine would also follow the same pattern, checking six months after their second dose to receive their booster shot and this vaccine would be available from Monday to the public.
The minister advised that persons who received the Sinopharm vaccine should wait three months before getting a booster shot.
And for the recipients of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, persons should wait two months after the single shot to get another shot.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved that any WHO-approved Covid vaccine can be administered as a booster shot.
Booster shots are being given at 13 locations throughout all the regional health authorities.
“One of the best ways to protect against Omicron variant is to be boosted,” Deyalsingh advised.
