UAE: Leave 3-week gap between flu shot and Covid jab

UAE: Leave 3-week gap between flu shot and Covid jab

The minimum duration between taking a Covid vaccine and a seasonal influenza (cold and flu) vaccine should be at least three weeks, a health official said on Monday. Though it’s vital to take both vaccines, Dr Farida Al Hosani, executive director of Infection Diseases Sector in the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said the two are completely different in terms of composition. “Influenza vaccine has inactivated particles of the influenza virus, whereas Covid vaccines have different manufacturing methods based on the company making it and have components of Covid-19. We urge the community to get both the vaccinations at the earliest after giving the recommended gap of three weeks,” she said. Dr Farida spoke at the launch of the annual National Seasonal Flue Awareness Campaign 2021 drive, which is promoted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) under the slogan ‘Protect Yourself... Protect Your Community’. Seasonal flu is a rapidly transmissible disease and the onset of the disease is seen more during winter months beginning from October to April in the UAE. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks, sending droplets of the virus into the air. Other methods of transmission include touching surfaces or