MUSCAT: The Ministry of Health (MOH) started administering booster doses (third dose of COVID-19 vaccine) from November 7 to high-risk groups.

Who among the high-risk groups can take the booster dose in Oman? Following groups who have completed eight months since the second dose of vaccine can take the booster dose.

• Individuals who are 65 years and older.
• Healthcare workers and front-line workers aged 50 years and older.
• Patients with chronic diseases aged 18 years and older, especially if they are not well controlled.
• Those with chronic illnesses include chronic lung conditions – chronic obstructive pulmonary syndrome (COPD), asthma (medium and high severity), interstitial lung disease, chronic kidney diseases (kidney failure and those on dialysis) – as well as diabetes, hypertension, hereditary blood disorders, liver diseases and obesity (body mass index of 30kg/m2 and higher).
• For immunocompromised patients, the third dose will be administered to those who have completed three months since the second dose.
• The target groups include immunocompromised patients aged 12 and older who are undergoing cancer treatment, bone marrow or organ transplantation, HIV positive (especially uncontrolled), and those receiving immunosuppressive drugs or biological agents.

The Supreme Committee had issued a decision allowing high-risks groups to take the third dose of vaccination. “The patient should take the advise of their doctor regarding the date of vaccination to ensure that it doesn’t conflict with other medications,” MOH said in the statement.