UAE offers free COVID-19 vaccination jabs across the emirates

UAE kicked off its vaccination for all campaign last month and it aims to inoculate at least 50 per cent of the people in the country by the first quarter of the year. This implies a full-steam-ahead approach to ensure the safety of its residents. Above: People at Sheikh Khalifa Hall Vaccination Centre in Ajman queue up for a jab on January 12.

There are of course some criteria a person needs to meet to be in the priority queue. If you are more susceptible to infection due to high blood pressure or diabetes, you are automatically bumped up the line. | Above: Residents get their blood pressure checked before taking the COVID-19 vaccine at Indian Association Ajman on January 13.

Several senior citizens in Dubai received the SARS COV-2 vaccine, SinoPharm, this week as part of an initiative organised by the UAE Community Development Authority (CDA) at various Customer Happiness Centers for Social Affairs. More than 150 senior residents got their first dose of the vaccine at the centre in Jumeirah.

Inmates at #Dubai’s punitive and correctional institutions receive doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Employees at Dubai government entities continue to receive COVID-19 vaccine as part of the country’s nationwide campaign to immunize against the spread of COVID-19.

Dubai Police senior officers and employees lined up to take their doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Apart from the employees of Dubai Police, employees at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai were also part of the first phase of the vaccination campaign at GDRFA headquarters, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

UAE Team Emirates riders, staff take COVID-19 vaccine.

The riders and staff of the Tour de France 2020 winning team, UAE Team Emirates, have taken the COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Sinopharm CNBG and approved by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, following the success of the #4Humanity trials facilitated by G42 Healthcare in the UAE.

Fatima Shakir, 67 year old Indian expat getting her blood pressure checked at Zabeel Primary Health Centre to get 2nd dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

There are of course some criteria a person needs to meet to be in the priority queue. If you are more susceptible to severe infections due to high blood pressure or diabetes, you are automatically bumped up the line.

Various centres across the Emirates offer the vaccine jabs. | Above: Residents get the free Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at Indian Association Ajman on January 13.

In the UAE, the free vaccine programme aims to protect both residents as well as citizens, so anyone can go get the jab. | Above: Residents filling up a consent form before queueing up at the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention's Al Qusais Health Center to take the vaccine.

In Abu Dhabi, there are now 105 locations across the emirate where residents can get the vaccine.

While many meet the requirements for a safe inoculation, some people including pregnant and breastfeeding mums are not allowed the jab; there just aren’t enough studies to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that they won’t negatively impact the infant.

Orderly lines ensure an easy trip to the vaccination tents. Case in point: (pictured above) the tent in Al Wasl area in Dubai on January 11.

Visitors at Al Khalidiyeh Health Centrer in Sharjah, which is one of the venues for COVID-19 vaccination.

Residents getting Covid-19 Vaccine at Indian Association Ajman.

Those wishing to get a vaccine jab can also head to Mughaider Suburb Council – West Tent Vaccination Centre in Sharjah.