COVID-19: New vaccine available

COVID-19: New vaccine available and launch of the vaccination campaign

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs announced the launch of the fall COVID-19 vaccination campaign with the new monovalent Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine for adults and children 12 and over. Manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech, the vaccine is suitable for the currently circulating variant and only requires one dose regardless of the patient’s past vaccine record.

As reiterated by the Prince’s Government, it is strongly recommended that people aged 65 and over and people at risk of a serious illness be administered this vaccine to protect themselves.

Any Monegasque, Monegasque resident, person insured by the Monaco Social Security Funds, or child attending school in Monaco aged 12 or over can be vaccinated against COVID-19 via one of the following methods:

1. Contacting the Monaco Screening Centre located at Princess Grace Hospital by telephone (+377) 97.98.83.02. to make an appointment.
2. Making an appointment with your GP at their office or at home if you are unable to get around.
3. Going to a chemist in the Principality.

The health professional who administers the vaccine will ask you to fill out a medical questionnaire to ensure there are no contraindications.

For minors aged 12 to 17, authorisation from the child’s paediatrician and the permission of legal guardians — usually both parents — or the sole legal guardian are required. The consent form can be downloaded from www.covid19.mc.

Vaccination sessions will be organised directly at residential facilities for the elderly for people who live at these facilities.

The Prince’s Government reminds the public that no contraindications exist for a simultaneous flu/COVID-19 vaccination provided that a different injection site is used. Simultaneous vaccination is possible by a general practitioner (by picking up your flu vaccine at the chemists beforehand) or directly at a city chemist’s.

For more information, send an email to covid19@gouv.mc or visit www.covid19.mc.