Romania to start administering fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose next week

Romanians over the age of 18 will be able to receive the fourth dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 beginning Monday, May 16, the Health Ministry announced. The second booster dose will be offered to those who received the third dose at least four months before.

“As of May 16, 2022, the fourth dose of Comirnaty-Pfizer BioNTech vaccine will be available in vaccination centres and family medicine practices. People over the age of 18 who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with 3 doses of mRNA vaccine may request the fourth dose,” the Health Ministry said.

The fourth dose of vaccine is recommended especially for people over 60 years of age, the ministry explained.

Andrei Baciu, the coordinator of the COVID vaccination committee (CNCAV), announced in April that the COVID-19 vaccination centres would no longer operate in Romania as of July 1. Instead, vaccine distribution will be moved exclusively to family doctor practices. The announcement came as many COVID-19 vaccination centres have already closed in Romania against the low interest in vaccination.

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