Filenews 14 September 2022
The Council of Ministers today approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Health for the administration of booster doses of updated, adapted vaccines against COVID-19. The Ministry's recommendation was made after a study of the new recommendations of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the ECDC, the World Health Organization and pharmaceutical companies regarding the updated, adapted vaccines evaluated by the National Vaccination Advisory Committee of the Ministry on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
Specifically, the Council of Ministers approved:
a) booster/3rd dose in people aged 12 years and over, provided that the period of five (5) months has elapsed since the 2nd dose was taken. It is understood that the validity of the European Digital Certificate (SafePass) will not be affected in case of non-receipt of a booster / 3rd dose.
(b) 2nd booster/4th dose:
- In persons over 30 years of age,
- To people who live or work in nursing homes and closed structures regardless of age,
- Health professionals regardless of age,
- In pregnant women regardless of age,
- diabetes mellitus,
- severe obesity: BMI ≥40 or ≥35 with metabolic syndrome,
- severe chronic cardiac and vascular disease,
- chronic severe kidney disease,
- severe chronic liver disease,
- severe chronic neurological disease,
- hemoglobinopathies,
- in immunodeficiency and immunocompromised patients such as:
- in active therapy for solid tumours and haematological malignancies,
- with a history of transplantation of solid organs receiving immunosuppressive therapy,
- with a history of transplantation of primordial hematopoietic organs receiving immunosuppressive therapy,
- with hereditary immunodeficiency,
- with HIV Infection/AIDS,
- immunosuppressive therapy including biological agents,
- with renal failure undergoing haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis,
- regarding the intake of cortisone refers to people who have received or are taking a total dose of ›10 mg of prednisone / day (= 8 mg of methylprednisolone) for one (1) month in the last six months,
provided that the period of five (5) months has elapsed since the receipt of the booster/3rd dose. It is understood that the validity of the European Digital Certificate (SafePass) will not be affected in case of non-receipt of a booster / 4th dose.
More information on the rollout of the updated, adapted vaccines will be announced in the coming days.
