Students aged 12 and above must be vaccinated to return to school, said education authorities
24 August 2021
| Last updated on 25 August 2021
Students who are not Covid-19 vaccinated will be considered absent.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has approved the Moderna vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, announced the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Students in the kingdom must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to be allowed admission into schools, or they will be marked as "absent" from classes.
"Middle and high school students who have completed two doses are required to attend educational facilities, and those who did not complete the two dose vaccination will be considered absent until the two dose vaccination is completed," said Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh in local media reports.
Earlier in June, the Saudi Ministry of Health began offering the Pfizer vaccine to children from 12 to 18 years old, after the approval of the SFDA and the completion of scientific studies that showed the vaccine's safety and effectiveness for this age group.
The SFDA's decision to offer the Moderna vaccine to children above 12 has been based on the studies provided by the vaccine developers.
Previously, the Moderna vaccine was only available for expats and nationals aged 17 or older.
Officials and health professionals are continuously working to boost the country's vaccination rate, as part of their campaign to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the kingdom.
