Doctors in the UAE have reassured anyone fasting this Ramadan that it is safe to continue with their planned Covid-19 vaccinations.
The holy month is just days away, but as the UAE continues at full pace with its nationwide vaccination drive, some people are unsure if they should proceed with appointments to take their first or second dose.
Medics are offering timely pointers to encourage those fasting to stay as healthy as possible.
If a person is going to take a vaccine during Ramadan, they are advised to break a fast and take in more fluids. They are also advised to take proper rest and healthy food.
“As we know, in Ramadan, Muslims go fasting for food and water for about 14 hours and, in Islam, if a person is sick, they are allowed to break the fast,” said Dr Hesham Gad, a specialist of internal medicine at International Modern Hospital, Dubai.
“Due to Covid-19, we need to take more fluids.
“So, if a person is going to take a vaccine during Ramadan, they are advised to break a fast and take in more fluids. They are also advised to take proper rest and healthy food.”
Ramadan can be a difficult time for hospitals and clinics across the country.
The most common admissions are of people with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, asthma and epilepsy.
Added to the continued management of coronavirus infections, hospital staff are bracing themselves for a busy month ahead.
Many private hospitals are likely to extend the availability of specialists to deal with the increased demand for treatment outside of regular hours.
It is not uncommon for patients who are managing existing conditions to fall ill after breaking their fast at sunset, with admission usually related to medication.
“As the holy month of Ramadan starts in a few days, the medical community is encountering several concerns from patients about receiving Covid-19 vaccines,” said Dr Azeem Abdul Salam Mohamad at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.
“Taking the vaccine during fasting hours will not invalidate your fast as the vaccine does not pass through any opening of your body as it is injected into the muscle.
“The vaccine has no nutritional value and is not a food or drink that satisfies hunger.
“The content of vaccine is halal and does not contain pork, animal products or alcohol.”
Dr Mohamad said if a person experiences side effects from a vaccine and needs to take medicine or break the fast, it is permissible, and can be compensated for by fasting on another day.
“Fasting can boost the immune system, so it is absolutely safe to receive the vaccine during fasting hours,” he said.
Ramadan is due to begin on April 12, depending on the first sighting of the moon in line with the Islamic calendar.
Dubai extended its vaccination programme in March, calling on all residents over 40 to register to receive a dose of either the Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Sinopharm vaccines.
On April 5, 17,743 doses were administered taking the total number of vaccines administered in the UAE to 8,596,722, consolidating one of the fastest immunisation campaigns in the world.
Dr Tarek Ibrahim, head of the emergency medicine department at NMC Specialty Hospital in Al Ain, advised people to continue with any vaccine appointments they had during Ramadan.
“A vaccine is the most effective way to curb the spread of this virus and ensure protection to ourselves, our family and those who are at high risk from Covid-19,” he said.
“It is highly advised that people do not postpone or delay their Covid-19 vaccination plan.
“However, people with chronic conditions should consult a physician prior to taking the jab.
“In addition, those with increased risk of contracting Covid-19 should consider alternative options to fasting.”
Medics lead fight against Covid-19 in the UAE:
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Read more about the coronavirus
Match info:
Leicester City 1
Ghezzal (63')
Liverpool 2
Mane (10'), Firmino (45')
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The%20specs
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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Kalra's feat
- Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
- Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
- Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
- Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
