Coronavirus: Only vaccinated people can attend live events from June 6, says government

Covid-19 briefing also hears that UAE public to apply and be evaluated before getting booster shot

The UAE authorities have released more details about plans for coronavirus vaccine booster shots and rules for attending live events.

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the state health sector, said people will be assessed to ensure that they meet the criteria for a third dose.

Speaking at a weekly coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, Dr Al Hosani said the evaluations will be carried out through pre-appointment services.

"We confirm that the priority is to administer the supporting dose of the vaccine," she said.

"It will be for the elderly and people with chronic diseases as a first stage, being the most vulnerable."

Further details were expected to be released in the next few weeks.

The briefing also heard that only vaccinated people and participants in the vaccine clinical trials can attend live events from June 6. Attendees will have to present a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before.

"Additionally, to attend the events, the letter “E” must be visible in Al Hosn application," the briefing heard.

Other rules such as wearing masks must also be followed.

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A man wears a face mask in Al Jadaf area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE's vaccination drive has now reached more than 78.11 per cent of all eligible people. In addition, 84.59 per cent of the elderly – those aged 60 years and over – have been inoculated.

Dr Al Hosani also referred to mutant strains of the coronavirus.

She said health advice was to take a repeat test for the virus if symptoms persisted, even if the original test was negative.

She also called on everyone to take the vaccine and help the recovery.

Earlier, Dr Al Hosani had said the UAE public is to be offered booster shots of most coronavirus vaccines this year, but not until six to eight months after a second dose.

She said third doses should not be taken too early. "The duration might differ from vaccine to vaccine, but it's expected that after six to eight months ... most of the Covid vaccines will require a booster dose," she told Dubai Eye radio.

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Four vaccines have been authorised for use in the UAE: Pfizer-BioNTech; Oxford-AstraZeneca; Sputnik V; and China's Sinopharm, which is now being manufactured by UAE company Julphar in Ras Al Khaimah under the name Hayat-Vax.

The UAE recorded 1,672 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

The latest infections brought the country's total since the pandemic began to 559,291.

UAE authorities co-ordinated one of the world's fastest vaccination drives while a widespread testing programme to curb the virus was started.

Almost 50 million tests have been conducted and more than 12 million vaccine doses have been given.

New case numbers have fallen in recent months from a daily high of almost 4,000 in January.