Coronavirus: Booster shots for bedridden at home

The health ministry announced on Tuesday that arrangements will be made to provide booster shots against the coronavirus to bedridden patients at home.

This refers primarily to people who received the first two doses of the anti-Covid vaccine at home and remain bedridden.

To receive the third jab they must fill in and sign a consent form, and present it along with their original vaccination card and an identifying document.

People who received their vaccine as normal but are now bedridden can apply to be vaccinated at home by filling out a different form, which must be signed by themselves or a representative and their personal doctor, and sent via fax to 22605491.

The ministry reminded it will be using mRNA formulas (Modena and Pfizer) for booster shots, and that they can only be administered to people who got their second dose at least six months ago.

The categories eligible for booster shots at the moment are:

1. Those aged 60 and over
2. People with the following medical conditions/history:

• In treatment for solid tumours and blood cancers
• History of solid organ transplantation, receiving immunosuppressive therapy
• History of haematopoietic organ (e.g. bone marrow) transplantation, receiving immunosuppressive therapy
• Hereditary immunodeficiency
• HIV/AIDS
• People in immunosuppressive therapy including biological agents – regarding cortisone, people who have received or are receiving a total dose of >10 mg prednisone per day (= 8 mg methylprednisolone) for one month in the last six months.
• Severe chronic respiratory disease
• Severe chronic cardiovascular disease
• Severe chronic kidney disease
• Severe chronic liver disease
• Severe chronic neurological disease
• Diabetes and other endocrine diseases
• Haemoglobin disorders (e.g. sickle-cell disease and thalassaemia)