Almost 500 people were due to receive the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 when the MBRU mobile unit pulled in to Green Coast industrial park on Thursday.
The Wellness on Wheels initiative by the Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Dubai Health Authority launched about 18 months ago to bring health screening and dentistry to mainly blue-collar workers.
Two of the project's three mobile health clinics are being used as vaccination centres in an attempt to improve access for immunisation against Covid-19 across Dubai.
“The mobile clinics will play a crucial role in expanding the reach of the vaccination drive and protecting more segments of the community through timely intervention,” said Dr Amer Mohammed Al Zarooni, deputy vice chancellor of administration and professional services at MBRU.
Staffed by 11 nurses and doctors from DHA and MBRU, the clinics administer the vaccines at 11 vaccination points.
“Wellness on Wheels is the first charitable mobile healthcare clinic funded by the community.”
So far, more than 8,000 people received the Covid-19 vaccination through the mobile clinics in less than a month.
Employees at Green Coast were queueing up for their shot as the mobile units parked up for the day in Nadd Al Hamar.
The registration process was rapid and seamless. On presenting an Emirates ID, a worker confirmed the registered phone number before queueing in an outdoor seating area for five to 10 minutes.
A nurse then called out the name of the employee to be vaccinated, who entered the mobile unit to be given a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is known as Covishield in India.
After a brief observation period to check on any unlikely adverse reactions to the jab, the staff returned to work.
Laurent Longuet, 51, chief executive of renewable energy company Siraj Power, was one of those vaccinated on Thursday.
“It marks the end of a very difficult situation for us that we have been through,” he said.
“To know the staff are vaccinated and protected will help us hugely.
“We have had to bring a lot of changes to the way we work to keep people safe, so this is a great relief.
“I was expecting some staff to be reticent, but a lot of them had suffered, or their friends and family had suffered, so everyone wanted to register and benefit from this programme.”
Covid-19 vaccines at your convenience
The vaccination drive has so far been conducted at locations including Al Garhoud Private Hospital; Oilfields Supply Centre; SRG Holding Sheraton Grand; DP World; American Hospital Dubai; McDermott Middle East and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
It is due to expand across Dubai through the year.
“Not only are we educating at the university but we also wanted to provide a service,” said Kareem Gad, director of smart services at MBRU.
“The [Covid-19] command and control centre and the DHA helped us co-ordinate which sites to go to, and identify which sectors we need to prioritise.”
Officials said vaccines may differ between mobile sites, depending on availability of supplies.
Salah Ahmed Al Bahri, who leads the DHA’s Covid-19 mobile operation, said there was currently good access to Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines in Dubai.
“Our objective is to vaccinate all eligible adults by the end of this year,” he said.
“We have received requests from a number of companies and in collaboration with MBRU we are visiting the different sites to ensure they are suitable locations from which to administer vaccines.
“Any business can get in touch with us to see if they fit the criteria for a visit from the mobile vaccination unit.”
Community donations and sponsors help pay for the initiative, including Emirates Islamic Bank, Green Coast Enterprises and the firefighting company, Naffco.
"These projects are implemented with a common vision to advance health care and utilise the latest technologies to improve healthcare management and delivery in Dubai," said Dr Farida Al Khaja, chairwoman of the Covid-19 vaccination steering committee.
“The health and safety of our community members is our highest priority as we aim to vaccinate 100 per cent of all eligible adults by the end of the year.
“The mobile clinics help enhance capacity and provide added convenience to community members.”
UAE leaders vaccinated against Covid
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives the Sinopharm vaccine to protect against Covid-19 on November 3, 2020. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak receives the first of two shots of a vaccine that was trialled in the UAE. Wam -
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Mansoor -
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, gets the Sinopharm jab. -
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, receives the Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, October 31. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. Wam -
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, takes the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Twitter -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, UAE Fatwa Council, is vaccinated with the Sinopharm innoculation on January 4, 2021. Wam -
Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed, chair of Abu Dhabi's Executive Office, takes the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, receives the Sinopharm vaccine. -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives a thumbs up as he is vaccinated against Covid-19. -
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. -
Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police -
Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, director general of Dubai's State Security Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Amer Sharif, head of Dubai's Covid-10 Command and Control Centre, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, takes the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine
