MINISTRY OF HEALTH ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO BOOSTER GUIDELINES

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment wishes to announce changes in the time interval for Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine boosters. These changes have become necessary since documented data and published studies have shown that the Omicron variant requires additional vaccine protection. Persons will recall that the Omicron variant has been identified in Antigua and Barbuda.

The COVID-19 Vaccination National Technical Working Group has therefore recommended that the interval for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters should be changed from 6 months to 5 months after the second dose of the vaccine.
The interval for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine booster is changed from 6 months to 3 months after the second dose of the vaccine.

In addition, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters for individuals who are 12 to 17 year old are now available in Antigua and Barbuda.

These changes are effective immediately and the booster shots are available at the Multipurpose and Villa Polyclinics vaccination sites and some health centers.

The public is further reminded that vaccination is one of the most effective measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons are therefore urged to get fully vaccinated and get their boosters utilizing the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines readily available at our vaccination sites.

We also implore you to adhere to the public health measures to prevent and control the disease. These include physical and social distancing, using face masks and practicing hand hygiene and cough etiquette.