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The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is now available across all Abu Dhabi Health Services Company’s (Seha) vaccination centers across UAE. This means all 46 clinics, centres, and drive-through facilities run by Seha in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the northern emirates will now offer the vaccine.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Seha and the Department of Health with the decision coming into effect immediately. “Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines are now being administered across 60 centers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the Northern Emirates. Those as young as 12 years old can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while the Sinopharm vaccine is only available to those over the age of 16,” Seha said in a statement.
On May 13, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) also approved the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 to 15. Later, on May 18, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) announced that a third booster dose of the Sinopharm vaccine will be made available to those who have taken both doses not more than six months ago.
(1/2)@SEHAHealth, in collaboration with @DoHSocial, is providing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine across all of its 46 vaccination centres in the UAE, for individuals aged 12 and over pic.twitter.com/NZ26dIlfP7
— SEHA – شركة صحة (@SEHAHealth) May 21, 2021
As part of UAE’s ongoing efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, parents are also being urged to vaccinate their children who are eligible. The authorities have stressed this due to the return of children to in-person teaching at schools next year.
The NCEMA recently stated, “More than 73.88% of the total eligible group, individuals above 16, were vaccinated. In addition, 80.33% of senior citizens, above 60 years of age, were vaccinated, which is the priority group as they are more vulnerable to the disease and its complications.”
Authorities have exempted certain groups from the Covid-19 vaccine. This includes those who currently or have recently been infected with Covid-19, volunteers in Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials, pregnant women, and people vaccinated outside the country. People with severe allergies to vaccines or vaccine components, and members of the community with diseases proven to interact negatively with the vaccine are also exempt.
Vaccine appointments can be made by calling 800 50, visiting seha.ae, or via the Seha app.
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