Press Releases

The Council of Ministers approved today the Ministry of Health’s suggestion for the administration of booster doses of updated, adapted vaccines against COVID-19. The suggestion follows careful study of the new recommendations by the European Medicine Association, the ECDC, the WHO and pharmaceutical companies regarding updated, adapted vaccines, which was reviewed on Thursday, September 8^th, by the Ministry of Health’s National Advisory Committee on Vaccines.

Specifically, the Council of Ministers has approved:

a) booster/3^rd dose to persons aged 12 and over, provided that five (5) months have elapsed since the administration of the 2^nd dose. It is understood that the validity of the European Digital Certificate (SafePass) will not be affected in the event that a booster/3^rd dose is not administered.

b) 2^nd booster/4^th dose: 

• To individuals over the age of 30,
• To individuals who reside or who are employed in elderly homes and closed structures regardless of age,
• To healthcare professionals regardless of age,
• To pregnant individuals regardless of age,
• To individuals over the age of 12 with:
  • diabetes mellitus,
  • morbidly obese: BMI ≥40 ή ≥35 or with metabolic syndrome,
  • serious chronic cardiovascular disease,
  • serious chronic renal disease,
  • serious chronic hepatic disease,
  • serious chronic neurological disease,
  • hemoglobinopathies,
  • immunodeficient and immunocompromised patients for example:

-       in active treatment for solid tumours and hematological malignancies,

-       with a history of organ transplantation receiving immunosuppressive therapy,

-       with a history of haemopoetic stem cell transplantation receiving immunosuppressive treatment,

-       with hereditary immunodeficiency,

-       with HIV infection/AIDS,

-       in immunosuppressive treatment including biological products,

-       with renal failure undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis,

-       regarding cortisone use, it concerns individuals who have received or who will receive a total dose of ›10 mg prednisone/day (=8 mg methylprednisone) for one (1) month in the last six months,

given that five (5) months have elapsed since the administration of a booster/3^rd dose. It is understood that the validity of the European Digital Certificate (SafePass) will not be affected in the event that a booster/4^th dose is not administered.

More information on the administration of the updated, adapted vaccines will be announced in the coming days.

(AP/EP)