UAE vaccination campaign: how to book an appointment as health officials extend inoculation drive


  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE is expanding efforts to inoculate all residents against Covid-19 by urging people still waiting for the vaccine to book appointments immediately.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention opened additional appointment slots for all residents across the Emirates.

In Dubai, any resident over the age of 16 can now schedule their first or second dose of the vaccine at one of the participating Ministry of Health centres in the city.

Vaccination centres operated by the Dubai Health Authority are still accepting appointments on a priority basis. Slots are only available for the elderly, frontline workers, people with chronic illnesses and over-40s.

In the capital, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) is administering first and second doses of the vaccine to all residents over the age of 16, at a number of tents and centres throughout the city.

Abu Dhabi appointments for the Sinopharm vaccine can be made through the Seha application. Only elderly residents and people with chronic health conditions can have walk-in appointments, all others must be pre-booked, health authorities said.

For the past six weeks,  across the country, shots of the vaccine were reserved for at–risk groups, including the elderly and those with underlying health issues.

In February, the Ministry of Health made the decision to limit the vaccine to special cases following a spike in infections at the beginning of the year.

Here, The National explains how you can book your jab.

Eligibility 

Eligible citizens and residents aged 16 and above can now be inoculated free of charge at any of the 205 vaccination locations nationwide, the health ministry said in a statement.

Vulnerable people without appointments will continue to receive priority at walk-in clinics.

Availability

The UAE has approved four Covid-19 vaccines for use: Sinopharm; Pfizer-BioNTech; Sputnik V; and Oxford-AstraZeneca.

Residents and citizens holding Abu Dhabi visas are eligible to receive the Sinopharm vaccine at all Seha-run facilities and participating Ministry of Health centres.

In the other emirates, health centres are administering all other jabs.

The type of vaccination you receive depends on availability and a patient’s risk of contraindications.

Dr Ramzi Alshaiba, medical director and specialist of general surgery at Bareen International Hospital in Abu Dhabi said the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine was available for citizens and residents, but strictly by appointment only.

“We advise our patients to visit our website or WhatsApp the Bareen hotline to book an appointment,” he said.

“Since we have just started opening slots, we are able to give appointments within the same week from the time we receive the query.”

There is a purpose-built Covid-19 vaccine tent on the hospital's premises.

A spokesperson for VPS Healthcare, which has 27 centres that offer the vaccine across the UAE, said people can now book their appointments online at www.covidvaccineuae.com and choose their nearest centre.

Registration

'Covid-19 UAE' is the Ministry of Health’s official mobile application on coronavirus management.

The app provides users with real-time coronavirus statistics in the UAE in co-ordination with National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority.

The app can be used to book a vaccination appointment at any participating Ministry of Health centre across the country.

People can download the app on Android or iOS. Users have to register by entering their personal details, Emirates ID and phone number before booking their appointment slot.

Dubai: For those looking to book an appointment at a DHA tent or centre in Dubai, they need to download the DHA application.

To register, a medical record number with the DHA is needed. This can be created on the DHA website.

After submitting your Emirates ID number, a one-time pin – or OTP – will be sent to your registered mobile number.

The system accepts only people who have a Dubai residency visa. The MRN cannot be created for visa holders of other emirates.

Once registered, login using your DHA Account or UAE Pass and select ‘book Covid-19 vaccine’.

Follow the symptom checker process and answer the questions carefully to determine your eligibility for the vaccine.

Schedule your appointment by choosing the nearest centre and the suitable time.

Review the details and confirm your appointment.

You will receive an SMS to confirm your appointment. Please read the consent form before visiting the clinic.

Abu Dhabi: Residents in Abu Dhabi or with an Abu Dhabi visa can book appointments via the Seha app. The following priority categories are eligible for walk-in vaccination at Seha vaccination centres and clinics, without an appointment:

- UAE nationals and their household workers

- Senior citizens and residents (50 years old and over)

- People of determination

- People with chronic diseases

Patients can register using their Emirates ID before continuing to the vaccination booking page.

Some of the centres offering vaccine to residents over 16

Dubai

Where: Al Ittihad Health Center

When: From Sunday to Thursday
9am to 6pm

Appointment: Call 80011111 or book via UAE Covid-19 app

Where: Dubai Parks and Resorts

When: From Sunday to Thursday
8am to 5pm

Appointment: Book via Seha application

______________

Abu Dhabi 

Where: Seha Covid-19 vaccination centre - Zayed Port

When: 7am to 10pm

Appointment: Book via Seha application

Where: Madinat Zayed Wedding Hall, Al Dhafra

When: 8am to 7.30pm

Appointment: Book via Seha application

______________

Sharjah

Where: Expo Centre Sharjah

When: From Sunday to Thursday
9am to 6pm

Appointment: Call 80011111 or book via UAE Covid-19 app

Where: Sharjah Health Center

When: From Sunday to Thursday
8am to 9pm

Appointment: Call 80011111 or book via UAE Covid-19 app

______________

Ajman

Where: Ajman Society for Social and Cultural Development

When: From Sunday to Thursday
8am to 10pm

Appointment: Call 80011111 or book via UAE Covid-19 app

Where: Emirates Hospitality Center Ajman

When: From Sunday to Thursday
9am to 6pm

Appointment: Call 80011111 or book via UAE Covid-19 app

______________

UAE’s vaccination drive

This latest announcement comes after the UAE reported last week that it had achieved its objective of vaccinating half the country’s population, two weeks ahead of its target date.

The total number of doses crossed 7.18 million on Sunday, representing 72.61 doses per 100 people.

Those who have already received their first dose were eligible to book their second dose throughout the past six weeks.

Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy. 

 

The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410

Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm

Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter

1. Dubai silk road

2.  A geo-economic map for Dubai

3. First virtual commercial city

4. A central education file for every citizen

5. A doctor to every citizen

6. Free economic and creative zones in universities

7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes

8. Co-operative companies in various sectors

­9: Annual growth in philanthropy

Results

Stage 7:

1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29

2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious

4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep

5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM

General Classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35

3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02

4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42

5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45