Vaccine booster shots now required in Abu Dhabi

Covid-19 booster shots are now required in Abu Dhabi six months after your second dose.

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Committee added new Covid-19 regulations Saturday for people vaccinated in the capital.

Starting August 20, for vaccinated people to enter public places across Abu Dhabi, they need to show a green status on the AlHosn App.

The committee also announced that vaccinated people are obligated to take a booster shot to maintain a green status.

“A booster dose must be taken six months after receiving the second dose per the medical protocol for each vaccine. A grace period of 30 days is given to all those who have taken their second dose more than 6 months ago before their status will turn grey on September 20. Participants in vaccine trials are exempt from needing a booster dose,” the committee said.

Also, people with new residencies have up to 60 days to get vaccinated.

Starting August 20, green status on the AlHosn app will be required to enter most public spaces in Abu Dhabi.

Let’s explain how to keep your green status:

1. Green status comes automatically from a negative PCR test or 28 days after you’ve received your second dose of a COVID vaccine.

2. If you’re fully vaccinated, you get automatic green status after 28 days, for a period of 30 days.

3. After that, you’ll need a negative PCR test result every 30 days to renew your status.

4. If you’ve had both doses but are under 28 days since the second dose, a negative PCR test will give you green status for 14 days.

5. If you have had one dose and are waiting for your second dose, a negative PCR test will give you green status for seven days.

6. If you have a vaccine exemption certificate (usually because you are medically unable to take the vaccine, check with your doctor!), you will also need to test negative every seven days to keep your green status.

7. If you are unvaccinated, or you didn’t get your second dose within a period of 48 days, you will need to have a negative PCR test every three days to keep your green status.

Green status can change in one of three ways, grey status, amber status, or red status.

Grey status means your validity has run out, and you’ll need to go get a negative PCR test to renew.

Red status means you’ve tested positive for COVID-19. Seek advice from a health care authority.

Amber status means you need to be tested or retested due to possible exposure to COVID-19.

Hope that makes this a bit less confusing as we all get used to this new system designed to keep us all safe.

Stay well, everyone!