Health

Saudi Arabia mandates COVID-19 booster shot to enter public places

People in Saudi Arabia will have to receive a booster vaccination shot against COVID-19 in order to attend events and use public transport from February 1, 2022, according to the official SPA news agency.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Those who have not received the booster shot more than eight months after their second vaccine dose will no longer be considered ‘immune’ in the Kingdom’s contact-tracing Tawakkalna app from February 2.

An ‘immune’ status in the app is required to attend events, enter government buildings, and travel by plane or public transport.

Residents who were previously exempt from having to be vaccinated will not be required to receive booster shots.

The announcement comes as the world tentatively braces for the potential spread of a the new Omicron strain of COVID-19.

Saudi Arabia announced its first case of the new strain on Wednesday.

COVID-19 variants emerge due to lax precautions, not getting vaccinated: Saudi Arabia

UAE offers COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for adults amid concern over Omicron

Health

World News in Brief: Vaccine ‘patches’ trial shows promise, lowering catheter infection risk, Guantanamo detainee facing revictimisation

Few enjoy having injections and if you have children, you probably like them even less when it’s time for their mandated vaccine shots.

Health

No sign yet of H5N1 bird flu spreading between humans, says WHO chief

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has so far shown no signs of adapting to allow human to human transmission, the UN health agency said on Wednesday, urging continued surveillance.

Health

Patients in Rafah ‘afraid to seek services’, WHO reports

The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken “crucial steps” in the event of a large-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah, Dr. Ahmed Dahir, Team Lead of its office in Gaza, told UN News on Tuesday.