Precautions

• There are different type of COVID-19 vaccine available, please make sure to describe the name of the vaccine to client before administration, type (monovalent, bivalent, mRNA, ....), and mention its approval type (FDA approved, or emergency use approval)
• Administer vaccinations to stable clients with controlled vital signs
• If the client has any of the following conditions, they may receive COVID-19 vaccination. However, they should be counseled about the unknown vaccine safety profile, effectiveness, and the potential for reduced immune responses.
  • Immunocompromising conditions, or take immunosuppressive medications or therapies including systemic corticosteroid or chemotherapy or immunomodulator, history of active cancer or in remission for less than 6 months, vaccine is recommended even though the underlying disease may cause suboptimal immune response.
  • Previously received passive antibody therapy as part of COVID-19 treatment (i.e. monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma), vaccination should be deferred for at least 90 days
  • Post-transplant recipient patient can receive vaccination within 3 months post transplantation
  • Patients on rituximab should stop the drug and re-start 4 weeks after the vaccination course is complete, if possible.
• COVID vaccines should routinely be administered alone unless the benefits outweigh the potential unknown risks of vaccine co-administration. The minimum intervals are as below :
  • 14 days before or after administration with any non-COVID vaccines
  • 30 days before or after administration of live attenuated non-COVID vaccines
• if the client has an acute febrile illness at the time of vaccination, proceed with vaccination only if generally stable
• If the client has a history of any immediate allergic reaction to any other vaccine or injectable therapy (i.e., intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous vaccines or therapies), the client should be counseled about the unknown risks of developing a severe allergic reaction and balance risks against the benefits of vaccination. This does not include sever allergy to food, pet, venom, or environmental allergies,(including: latex allergy, eggs, gelatin or allergies to oral medications (including the oral equivalents of injectable medications.
• If the client has a bleeding disorder or on anti-coagulation with documented uncontrolled INR, Severe Hemophilia A and B, Glanzmann Thrombasthenia, Von Willbrand Disease (VWB) Type 3, they need recommendation from treating physician to get the vaccine, and a proper care should be taken while administering IM injection to avoid risk of bleeding. People on anticoagulant injections, including enoxaparin (Lovenox®) or fondaparinux (Arixtra®) or direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), including apixaban (Eliquis®), dabigatran (Pradaxa®), edoxaban (Savaysa®), and rivaroxaban (Xarelto®), can be vaccinated. - People on warfarin, can be vaccinated as long as they routinely test INR levels and if the INR is within a target (or therapeutic) range.
• If the client have recent history of Guillain- Barre Syndrome (GBS) or transverse myelitis in the past 12 months, they need recommendation from treating physician to get the vaccine.
• Note all health care worker should follow UAE protocols and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, and if any guideline not available should follow CDC/WHO guidelines.