RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that all citizens and expatriates at the age of 16 and above would be allowed to take vaccine shots against coronavirus. "It is possible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by all those who turn the age of 16 years and above while the minimum age for administering Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 18 years," the ministry said in a statement posted on its "Health 937" Twitter account. The ministry had confirmed earlier that the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shall be taken within a period of time ranging between three and six weeks after the first dose while the duration between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine ranges between 8 and 12 weeks after receiving the first dose. The ministry statement noted that the vaccines approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) are Pfizer-BioNTech and the Oxford-AstraZeneca, stressing that all these vaccines are safe and give protection from severe complications and death due to COVID-19. The ministry has designated its "Health 937" Twitter account to render medical consultations and responding to queries about health services. The ministry also responded to queries such as whether the efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine would exceed one year or not; will the beneficiary be obliged to vaccinate every year to avoid coronavirus infection or will it be satisfied with taking the vaccination only once, replying "there is not enough information in this regard until right now."
