Reducing the gap between the first and second Covid-19 vaccine doses may negatively impact vaccine efficacy, a senior health official has stressed.
The statement by Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of Vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), was posted on the ministry's social media pages on Tuesday.
"The clinical research is clear that maximum protection against Covid-19 is achieved when a gap of 21 days for Pfizer-BioNTech, and 28 days for Moderna, is maintained between the first and second doses," Dr al-Bayat said.
"The latest research does not show any negative impact on vaccine efficacy if the gap is slightly extended by 2-3 weeks. However, significant reduction of the number of days between the two doses may result in the vaccine offering lower protection," she explained.
The official said it is understandable that many people are eager to get their second dose and become fully vaccinated as quickly as possible. "But I encourage people to be patient and wait to have the second dose at the optimal time for their own wellbeing and to benefit properly from the vaccine," she added.
The MoPH yesterday said 2,833,984 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of the programme, with 20,962 doses given in the past 24 hours.
The data showed that 68.8% of the eligible population have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. Also, 94.8% of people above 60 (the most vulnerable population group) have been vaccinated with at least one dose, while 88.6% have received both doses.
"The clinical research is clear that maximum protection against Covid-19 is achieved when a gap of 21 days for Pfizer-BioNTech, and 28 days for Moderna, is maintained between the first and second doses," Dr al-Bayat said.
"The latest research does not show any negative impact on vaccine efficacy if the gap is slightly extended by 2-3 weeks. However, significant reduction of the number of days between the two doses may result in the vaccine offering lower protection," she explained.
The official said it is understandable that many people are eager to get their second dose and become fully vaccinated as quickly as possible. "But I encourage people to be patient and wait to have the second dose at the optimal time for their own wellbeing and to benefit properly from the vaccine," she added.
The MoPH yesterday said 2,833,984 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered since the start of the programme, with 20,962 doses given in the past 24 hours.
The data showed that 68.8% of the eligible population have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. Also, 94.8% of people above 60 (the most vulnerable population group) have been vaccinated with at least one dose, while 88.6% have received both doses.