A second Pfizer COVID-19 booster dose will be offered to selected groups from Friday, May 20. The news came from Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh at Wednesday's virtual press conference. He said the decision was made in light of new guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
"WHO SAGE group (Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation) also our local TAG (Technical Advisory Group), I'm advised by the CMO has now signed on and signed off to a second booster or a fourth shot of mRNA vaccine," he said yesterday.
He said these jabs will only be administered to those over 60, healthcare workers, and the immunocompromised. "So persons who are fully vaccinated, who have been boosted can now get a fourth shot but the fourth shot will only be the Pfizer mRNA," he said.
With an interval requirement of between the boosters of 4 to 6 months, only those who received their first booster dose on or before January 20, 2022, will be eligible come Friday. He said those who contracted COVID-19 since they received their first booster dose will have the wait the customary three months before getting the second booster.
However, with the current batch of 51,722 Pfizer doses set to expire at the end of June and no current plans to secure more, it means anyone who got their first booster or contracted COVID-19 after March 30, 2022, will not be able to access this second booster despite meeting the other requirements.
Meanwhile, he said the 40,000 paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses for children 5 to 11 years have left Spain. However, he was unable to give a firm arrival date due to the numerous stops it will need to make before getting to T&T.
Reporter: Rishard Khan
