The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced that breastfeeding women and those who are planning to conceive in the near future can take the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech). The announcement has come in line with the DHA's efforts to expand the eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccination in order to inoculate a maximum number of people in Dubai.

In addition, people who have recovered from COVID-19 can also receive the vaccine once their isolation period is complete. However, it is important that their infection was either asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. With this development, they do not have to wait for three months to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking about the changes, Dr. Farida Al Khaja, CEO of DHA’s Clinical Support Services and Nursing Sector and Chairperson of the COVID-19 Vaccination Steering Committee, asserted that the decision was taken by the COVID-19 scientific committee after considering all factors in accordance with international guidelines. Dr. Al Khaja urged all patients who have active COVID-19 infection to wait until the completion of their isolation period in order to receive the vaccine.

"If the infection was moderate or severe and required hospitalisation, the timeframe for vaccination after infection will depend on the decision of the medical team that treated the patient. However, all mild cases or cases without symptoms can take the vaccine after completing the isolation period," she added.

Earlier, the DHA reduced the minimum age for some COVID-19 vaccines from 18 years to 16 years with the aim of inoculating every individual in the age group. The eligibility for the Pfizer-BioNTech "mRNA" vaccine was expanded by the authority to include women who are breastfeeding or planning to conceive after analysing the latest international studies and standards.

Dr. Muna Tahlak, CEO of Latifa Hospital for Women and Children, explained that clinical studies show mRNA vaccine is safe for breastfeeding women and those who are planning to conceive, unless there are any medical contraindications to vaccines or any vaccine component in the participant. She called on breastfeeding mothers to take the mRNA vaccine in line with the latest guidelines issued by the DHA, adding that they do not need to stop breastfeeding before or after vaccination.

"It is important to understand that COVID-19 vaccines are able to create an immune response without causing the illness and that they do not contain a live virus," Dr. Tahlak underlined.

According to a study conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are significantly effective in producing antibodies to fight the COVID-19 virus in pregnant and lactating women. Published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG), the study suggests that the vaccine will also provide protective immunity to newborn babies through the placenta and breast milk.

Dr. Tahlak recommended the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for women who are actively trying to conceive or considering pregnancy. In this regard, she highlighted that they do not have to delay the pregnancy planning until after receiving both doses of the mRNA vaccine.

"Moreover, a routine pregnancy test is not recommended prior to receiving the vaccine," Dr. Tahlak added.

The DHA is operating 11 dedicated vaccination centres across Dubai along with two mobile clinics to provide home-vaccination to the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the centres provide vaccination services from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm and from 9.00 pm to midnight from Sunday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the centres provide vaccinations from 9.00 pm to midnight only. In the last ten days of Ramadan, the centres will operate in the morning slot only from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. On May 7-8, the vaccination centres will remain closed.

Dr. Farida Al Khaja has noted that the health and wellbeing of the community members is the highest priority for the Authority. The DHA is providing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines across various locations in Dubai in order to ensure that all community members have convenient access to vaccination. The Authority is also operating mobile vaccination services to provide vaccinations to the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

"Our aim is to vaccinate 100 percent of the eligible adult population in Dubai by the end of 2021. The latest expansion in eligibility criteria follows a study conducted by the scientific committee on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for these groups," Dr. Al Khaja added.

WAM