The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced Friday that people in Saudi Arabia will have to receive a booster dose against COVID-19 in order to attend events and use public transport starting Feb. 1, 2022.

Those who have not received the booster dose more than eight months after their second vaccine shot will no longer be considered ‘immune’ in the Kingdom’s contact-tracing ‘Tawakkalna’ app as of Feb. 2.

In order to attend events, enter government buildings, and travel by plane or public transport, an ‘immune’ status in the app is required.

However, those who were previously exempt from having to be vaccinated will not be required to get booster shots.

This comes as the world tentatively braces for the potential spread of the new Omicron variant.

Saudi Arabia announced its first case of the new strain Wednesday, Dec. 1.