Photo has been used for illustrative purpose.

Emaduddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has announced that Evusheld is available for use by the targeted categories before being infected with COVID-19. This comes as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to provide the best services during the pandemic, protecting all members of the society and improving public health in Abu Dhabi.

The department stated that Evusheld is a preventive drug for those who are not infected with COVID-19 and have not recently been in contact with a positive case, adding that it is authorised for emergency use for those who suffer from a weak immune system due to immunosuppressive health conditions or treatments. The drug is used for people who have not been vaccinated due to allergic contraindications, the department said.

The department confirmed that the green pass system will be activated in the Al Hosn app for the categories that have obtained the drug and are excluded from vaccination for six months, stressing that the best prevention methods are the approved vaccines against COVID-19 as Evusheld is not a substitute for vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccine must be postponed for at least 30 days after Evusheld is administered, the department said, noting that if the vaccine has already been taken, Evusheld must not be administered before two weeks.

In a circular to all healthcare providers in the emirate, the department affirmed that health professionals must report any side effects resulting from the use of the above-mentioned drug to the pharmacovigilance programme via PVE@doh.gov.ae or via the link https://www.doh.gov.ae/en/resources/Reporting.

The department called on all health professionals to contact the Department of Communicable Diseases at the Abu Dhabi Center for Public Health on PHID@adphc.gov.ae for any inquiries.

Separately, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced that 10,021 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given in the past 24 hours.

The total number of doses provided up to Tuesday stands at 24,433,724 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 247.04 doses per 100 people.