People who took Sinopharm six months ago must get booster, Abu Dhabi authority says

Public have until September 20 to get third shot after which they cannot achieve 'green status' to enter public places

All school staff and children aged 16 and over must be vaccinated to enter school premises in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dalaa Alaa Aladwan, 14, from Rosary School is vaccinated at Seha Vaccination Centre, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port.

Abdullah Al Mansoori, 17, a student at Zayed University, is vaccinated before entering the army at Seha Vaccination Centre, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port.

Nour Khaled, 14, is vaccinated before attending Al Najah Private School in September.

Miranda Mali, 33, a kindergarten teacher at Sharjah American International School, is vaccinated before school begins.

A nurse explains how vaccination works to Kavita Kumari, a Hindi teacher at Sunrise English Private School.

A nurse prepares the vaccine kit at Seha Vaccination Centre, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port.

Dalaa Alaa Aladwan, 14, from Rosary School, signs forms to be vaccinated.

Nurses speak with patients at the Seha Vaccination Centre, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port.

The registration area at Seha Vaccination Centre, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port.

Nurses work at Seha Vaccination Centre, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, Zayed Port.

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Residents of Abu Dhabi who received their second shot of Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine more than six months ago must have a booster dose by September 20.

People who have received two doses of the vaccine are considered fully vaccinated, but if the second was not administered within the past six months, they must have a third shot, Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said.

The booster is required to enhance immunity and there is a 30-day grace period in which to take it, the committee said.

From September 20, people who have not had the booster shot will not be able to enter public places that require green status on Al Hosn, the UAE’s official Covid-19 app.

After the third dose, a PCR test must be taken at least every 30 days to maintain green status on Al Hosn.

Residents who have taken the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, or any of the other approved vaccines, do not require a third dose at this stage.

Booster shots can be taken without prior appointment at any Seha vaccination centre.

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi said Covid-19 vaccines for all other people in the emirate, including children aged 3 and up, could be received at walk-in centres throughout the emirate.

Children aged 3 to 17 can take the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also available for those aged 12 and over.