UAE unveils new vaccine and testing protocols for Al Hosn app

It will show how recently the user was inoculated

The Al Hosn app can be used as official proof of vaccination, to show negative PCR test status, to travel and to enter certain live events.

Asha Susan Philip, a nurse with Dubai Health Authority, receives the Pfizer vaccine. On Tuesday, Abu Dhabi also approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in the emirate.

A child, 9, is held by her mother as she receives the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine during a clinical trial for children at Duke University in the US. In the UAE, those who are 16 and above are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine will be available at select clinics in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafrah, by appointment only.

A boy receives an injection during a trial of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine among children aged between 12 and 15, at Duke University in the US.

Last week, Dubai Health Authority said recovered patients and breastfeeding mothers are now eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Pfizer received emergency approval in the UAE in December after trials showed it was 95 per cent effective. Dubai started distributing it in December and the vaccine is now available in the capital.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the second Covid-19 vaccine to be made available in Abu Dhabi, which began a mass vaccine campaign in mid-December using a shot produced by Chinese company Sinopharm.

Latest: How to download and register the UAE's Covid-19 vaccine app

A new colour-coded system for Al Hosn app was approved by the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention.

It will cover six categories, including fully vaccinated, people awaiting their second dose or who are late for their second dose appointment, those exempt from receiving the vaccine and those not vaccinated.

It will show how recently a person was vaccinated, which has a bearing on how long their green status will last.

The ministry said federal and local authorities will be able to use Al Hosn according to their individual needs and procedures.

The app will "ease movement and enable tourism nationwide".

Officials recently said that only vaccinated people will be allowed to attend live events from June 6.

The app is widely used to check the vaccination status of those crossing the checkpoint into Abu Dhabi and even for access to bars and clubs in Dubai.

Category 1:

For vaccinated people who received their second dose at least 28 days earlier, or were volunteers in vaccine trials, a negative PCR test result will cause the Al Hosn status to appear green for 30 days. It will show the active icon (letter E or gold star) for seven days.

Category 2:

For those who received their second dose less than 28 days earlier, a negative PCR test result will cause the Al Hosn status to appear green for 14 days.

Category 3:

For those who have received their first dose and are waiting for their second dose appointment, a negative PCR test result will cause the status on Al Hosn to appear green for seven days.

Category 4:

For those who have received their first dose and are late to their second dose appointment by 48 days or more, a negative PCR test result will cause the app status to appear green for three days.

Category 5:

For those with vaccine exemption certificates – used for people who cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons – a negative PCR test result will cause the status to appear green for seven days.

Category 6:

For those who are unvaccinated and do not have vaccine exemption, a negative PCR test result will cause Al Hosn's status to appear green for three days.

For all categories, the status will turn grey when the relevant PCR test validity ends.

The status will turn red when the test result is positive, whereafter the usual approved procedures will need to be followed.