The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Dubai

Dubai, UAE’s financial hub, has experienced a hard hit from the coronavirus epidemic, which intensely hurt its direct trade, tourism, and real estate sectors. Statistics show that the UAE has so far documented 195,878 confirmed cases with 642 deaths from the pandemic. Just a few days before Christmas, the buzz about the administration of the approved COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine got announced in Dubai.

With the jabs ordering currently soundly in progress, several government officials received this vaccine in the past weeks, including Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, the GDMO, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office.

This move arises after the earlier rollout of some vaccines in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Things have not been any different for Dubai citizens and residents since the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination is free after clinical trials proved its 95% effectiveness.

After the announced COVID-19 vaccination rollout and campaigns, if you want to get this jab, here is everything you should know about this shot in Dubai.

Where can you get the Pfizer COVID-19 shot in Dubai?

With that said, the Dubai Health Authority, in coordination with the COVID-19 inoculation piloting committee, made the vaccine available for Dubai residents at various locations. The outlined list of facilities consists of seven centers within the UAE, including the

1. Al Mizhar Primary Health Care Centre
2. Zabeel Primary Health Care Centre
3. Barsha Primary Health Care Centre
4. Nad Al Hamr Primary Health Care Centre
5. Hatta Hospital
6. Uptown Mirdif Medical Fitness Centre.

Which Corvid-19 vaccine is available?

Amidst the intense vaccination campaigns that kicked off in December, Dubai established emergency authorization and use of the candidate Pfizer and BioNTech’s developed COVID-19 vaccine.  The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention listed the vaccine after the government cited its 86% efficacy demonstrated in the late-stage trials. DHA’s will be offering the vaccination voluntarily for all Dubai residents and citizens, although targeting the high-risk groups, including the persons who had the COVID-19 infection.

For this period, all are obliged to follow the COVID-19 related regulations and policies within Dubai without assuming the required testing and screening procedures. Everyone must adhere to the precautionary measures and practices established, such as wearing of face mask even after receiving the COVID-19 shot.

Who is eligible for the Pfizer vaccine?

Lately, the DHA defined accurately who is now eligible to receive this vaccine. Presently, priority has been given to senior citizens aged above 60 years from any nationality and yet having a valid residential visa. Equally, individuals having chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, BMI levels of above 35, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.

Again, people having particular disabilities, usually called ‘people of determination’ within the UAE, are considered in this category. The public and private sector’s frontline workers, such as non-medical workers, medical hospital staff, emergency service providers, and employees holding vital and sensitive positions, including the government employees committed to managing this pandemic, are highly eligible as well.

Following the vaccination schedule, UAE residents have the opportunity to book a vaccine appointment using the toll-free number 800-342 or from the DHA app and to get more information by visiting dha.gov.ae. When making this appointment, all applicants get informed about the vaccine’s next rollout phase.