Patients with active infections, heart or brain problems should not receive COVID-19 vaccines until recovered – Chief Medical Officer

Patients who have an active infection and those patients who have been dealing with acute cardiac (heart) or acute cerebrovascular (brain, veins and arteries) events, should not receive the COVID-19 vaccines until they have recovered.

This is according to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Narine Singh, in a memorandum detailing the updated information for COVID-19 vaccination exemptions.

Importantly, the CMO said that patients with an active infection should identify if they are on antibiotics and should state the duration of their infection.

Both sets of patients must receive clearance from their doctor before getting vaccinated, after they have recovered.

All individuals aged 18 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines; only people aged 18 to 60 can receive the Chinese- Sinopharm vaccine, however.

Meanwhile, children aged 12 years and older will be able to receive the US-made Pfizer vaccines.