Saudi Arabia makes Covid-19 vaccine booster mandatory for travel abroad

A Saudi pupil collects his books at a school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has reintroduced the mandatory wearing of face masks. Reuters

A masked Saudi man prays at Al Rajhi Mosque in Riyadh. Reuters

A Saudi woman wearing protective gloves at a supermarket in Riyadh.

A Saudi nurse checks a patient's temperature at a mobile clinic in the Ajyad Almasafi district of Makkah. AFP

Masked pedestrians in Riyadh during Saudi Arabia's 90th annual National Day celebrations. Reuters

A security man checks worshippers before socially-distanced Friday prayers at Al Rajhi Mosque in Riyadh. Reuters

A woman has her temperature checked at Riyadh International Airport, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Vegetable shopping at a supermarket in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Reuters

A woman wearing a face mask at a supermarket in Riyadh. Reuters

A Saudi family on Tahlia Street in Riyadh as nightlife resumed after the government eased some coronavirus restrictions. Reuters

A Saudi volunteer supervisor checks the temperature of another volunteer before preparing boxes of iftar meals during Ramadan 2020. Reuters

Saudi Arabia has begun inoculating children aged 12 and older with the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: Saudi Ministry of Health

All Saudi citizens who did not have their second Covid-19 shot within the past three months must have a booster dose before travelling outside the country.

The rule will come into effect on Wednesday, February 9, the interior ministry said.

Children aged under 16 and people who fall into an exempt category on the Tawakkalna application do not need a booster to travel.

The Interior Ministry said that all passengers arriving to the kingdom, including residents and citizens, must show proof of having tested negative for the coronavirus within 48 hours of their departure to the country, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Children younger than 8 are exempt from this rule.

Face masks are mandatory in public spaces, including offices and malls.

The government has encouraged citizens and residents who have had both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine to come forward for a booster shot.

Anyone whose second dose was more than three months ago, or who has been recovered from Covid-19 for at least this period, is eligible for the supplementary shot.

Cases of the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia have declined in the past month.

On Thursday, the kingdom recorded four Covid-19 deaths and 3,852 new cases.