Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced the extension for individuals to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and now women that are breastfeeding as well as those that are planning to conceive can now receive the vaccine.
Dr Muna Tahlak, CEO of Latifa Hospital for Women and Children said, “Clinical studies show that the mRNA vaccine is safe for women who are breastfeeding or planning to conceive unless the patient has certain medical contraindications to vaccines or any vaccine component. Mothers who are breastfeeding can now take an mRNA vaccine as per the latest DHA vaccine guidelines. There is no need to stop breastfeeding before or after vaccination.”
A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology done by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard has found that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in producing antibodies against the COVID-19 virus in pregnant and lactating women.
The study also demonstrated that vaccines provide protective immunity to newborns through breast milk and the placenta.
Additionally, individuals that have had COVID-19 and have had mild symptoms or are asymptomatic can receive the vaccine once done with their isolation period.
Individuals with moderate to severe symptoms can receive their vaccination with the approval of the medical team that helped them recover.
DHA has already allowed individuals 16 and above to receive the vaccine.
Eleven vaccination centres and two mobile clinics have been dedicated to administer vaccines to the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
During Ramadan, vaccinations from Sunday to Thursday will be given out from 9am to 4pm and from 9pm to midnight.
On Friday and Saturday, vaccinations will be administered from 9pm to midnight.
For the last ten days during Ramadan, the centres will be open from 9am to 4pm, with the centres closing on 7 and 8 May.