Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron
Dubai has started offering the Covid-19 vaccine to children aged 5 and above.
Parents can book appointments on the Dubai Health Authority app from Tuesday, February 1.
The emirate has provided the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to the public since December 2020. It was made available to children aged 12 to 15 across the UAE in May last year.
"The current Covid-19 vaccination is available for citizens and Dubai residents who have a valid Dubai residence visa and are 5 years and above," read a message on the booking section on the DHA app.
Private healthcare centres were issued a briefing on January 25 to prepare for the expansion of the vaccination programme to younger children.
While most adults had at least some kind of protection from either vaccination or prior infection, the virus has spread more widely in children.
The risk of severe infection with Sars-CoV-2 is lower among children aged 5 to 11, compared to adults, but numbers of new cases and admissions to hospital continue to rise within this age group.
The DHA said admissions to hospital in children were increasing because of the Omicron variant.
Hospitals around the world have reported more children requiring hospital care as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 circulated rapidly.
Data from the US found a third of children admitted with Covid-19t required intensive care.
Of the children who developed severe illness, most had underlying medical conditions.
Current evidence suggests children with underlying genetic, neurologic and metabolic conditions or congenital heart disease are at increased risk of severe illness.
Youngsters are at risk of developing multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is a serious though uncommon condition associated with recent Sars-CoV-2 infection.
The condition is estimated to affect between 0.5 per cent and 3.1 per cent of all children who have Sars-CoV-2 diagnosed, and between 0.9 per cent and 7.6 per cent of Covid-19 paediatric patients admitted to hospital.
Meanwhile, in Canada, 272 cases of MIS-C in children under 19 had been reported as of October 16, 2021.
Their average age was 6, with 40 per cent of cases occurring in those aged 5 to 11.
On October 29, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorisation to allow the use of the Pfizer vaccine, for immunisation to prevent the virus in children aged five and over.
Data from independent advisory committee experts found the vaccine to be 90.7 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19 in children.
In the UAE, Sinopharm has been available for children as young as 3, but the Pfizer vaccine was unavailable for children aged 5-11 until now, despite its approval for emergency use by regulators in November.
At the start of the year, about 30 Dubai schools returned to distance learning owing to concerns about rising cases of Covid-19 in younger children.
Many were unprotected against the virus unless they had been previously infected and had natural immunity provided by antibodies.
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Abu Dhabi pupils return to school - in pictures
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Key safety measures were in place at The British School Al Khubairat on January 31 as pupils returned. Victor Besa / The National -
A pupil heads back to The British School Al Khubairat on January 31. Victor Besa / The National -
Two young pupils return to in-person studies at Brighton College in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A young learner heads to class at Brighton College. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Senior school pupils were welcomed back at Brighton College .Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Brighton College offered a warm welcome to returning learners. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Brighton College in Abu Dhabi is now able to offer in-person teaching for all of its age groups. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Physical distancing rules remain in place to keep the school population safe. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The familiar walk to school was back on the agenda on January 31. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A young pupil prepares to reunite with classmates at Brighton College . Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A Brighton College learner makes his way to class. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A pupil returns to the Brighton College campus in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Many Brighton College Pupils were back on the school bus to start the week. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi marked another milestone moment on January 31. Victor Besa / The National -
Pupils get set for in-person lessons at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
A young learner makes his way to class at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
A pupil is given some guidance on their return to The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
January 31 marked a first day back to school for thousands of pupils across the country. Victor Besa / The National -
Safety remains paramount at The British School Al Khubairat. Victor Besa / The National -
A pupil gets set for in-person teaching at The British School Al Khubairat. Victor Besa / The National -
A young learner on the back to school trail. Victor Besa / The National
