Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced the possibility for children under 12 years old to receive the Pfizer vaccine soon.

The Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Muhammad Al-Abdel Ali, at the press conference here on Sunday, stressed that the study on giving children the Pfizer vaccine is still under review, but the possibility of providing the kid jab is very close.

The study of giving the vaccine, a smaller dosage, to children was positive according to the US Food and Drug Administration, he said.

The spokesman added that immunization decrease could be enhanced by a booster dose, as the long period from the last date of receiving the second dose may result in a decrease in immunization.

He also reiterated that taking the COVID-19 booster dose and the flu shot at the same time would not yield negative effects.

The Ministry of Health has started to give the COVID-19 booster shots for all those at age of 18 or above. The booster dose could only be taken six months after the date of the second dose.

The Ministry of Health has already started giving the booster dose to those in high-risk groups, who have been exposed to organ transplants, those who have chronic kidney disease and health workers.

The Health Ministry spokesman stressed that there is a noticeable positive decrease in the curve of coronavirus cases in the Kingdom.

The new COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia went below the 50-mark on Sunday, with 47 new infections recorded over the past 24 hours.

According to the ministry, among the active cases 79 of them were in critical condition.

Saudi Arabia has administered more than 45 million doses of the vaccines till date since the start of vaccination.