UAE: Covid-19 vaccine protocol for children aged 5-11 announced

UAE: Covid-19 vaccine protocol for children aged 5-11 announced

Authorities recently announced that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be provided to children above 5

Published: Wed 9 Feb 2022, 6:52 PM Last updated: Wed 9 Feb 2022, 6:57 PM

Children aged five to eleven are not required to take Covid-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster, a top UAE official revealed Wednesday.

Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for UAE Health Sector, said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children is administered in two doses with the second dose given three weeks (21 days) after the first.

"The booster shot (for kids) is not recommended," said Dr Hosani during the weekly Covid-19 briefing.

Health authorities in the UAE recently announced that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be provided to children aged five to 11 in accredited health centres.

"The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorised for emergency use for children by the Food and Drug Administration agency (USA) and relevant international and local organisations," said Dr Hosani.

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However, she added, "There is no major difference in terms of the components of the two types of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, but the vaccine for children aged between five and 11 contains a smaller dose compared to the adult vaccine."

Moreover, scientific studies conducted by relevant international advisory commissions in charge of ensuring the safety of Covid-19 vaccines,