Dubai begins a free coronavirus vaccination campaign from today

Coronavirus Vaccination Campaign: Dubai has begun the free rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against SARS-Cov-2 from today. The first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine arrived on Dec 22 via Emirates aircraft SkyCargo in Dubai from Brussels. Emirates are one of the leading nations to enroll and approve it.

On Tuesday, Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management’s statement announced that the immunization campaign on Covid-19 will commence in Dubai on Wednesday. 

However, there are certain measures that need to be adhered to before residents book an appointment with licensed medical care centers. When anyone will call the hotline number 800342, the IVR will guide them to a voice that will explain the vaccination process.

Currently, the vaccine is prioritized for senior citizens, and for Dubai residents that have valid emirate visas, and for people with chronic ailments over the age of 18. 

To book an appointment, the residents would need to provide a Medical Record Number (MRN). Those that do not have MRN can write to info@dha.gov.ae for the same by adding a copy of Emirate ID (front and back) along with the mobile number. 

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism stated that the emirate will start international tourism from Dec. 24 as Abu Dhabi was successful in containing the spread of COVID-19 and keeping a low rate in confirmed cases. 

The total number of Covid cases in the nation presently remains at 195,878, and the loss of life is 642 as per MOHAP. 1,611 individuals recuperated during the past 24 hours, carrying the absolute number of recoveries to 171,451. 

It is mandatory that all visitors take a PCR test on the 6th day of their stay in the emirate if they wish to stay for six successive days or more, and get tested on the twelfth day if they wish to stay for 12 days or more, expressed the official government Twitter handle. 

The UAE government asked the citizens to try not to spread rumors about the new Covid variant strain and to continue taking all precautionary measures. 

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge stated on Monday, all kids of 12 years and above will need to get a PCR test done if they wish to attend schools during the next term, which starts on Jan. 3.

 The PCR tests will be free of cost on a particular date for each school from Dec. 21 to 31 at assigned screening centers, the Authority added. 

This is the second immunization rollout in the nation following the UAE started regulating China’s Sinopharm vaccine to all residents and citizens free of cost, which began on December 9. 

The mRNA shot which is developed by the US drug company Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech will be given free to residents. For long-term stockpiling, the Pfizer immunization must be kept at – 70°C, which needs extraordinary cooling devices.

The Sinopharm vaccine is 86 percent efficient, as per UAE officials, whereas, the Pfizer vaccine test shows 95 percent efficiency after two dosages.