It has been announced by the Ministry of Health and Prevention that the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all of those who are over the age of 16.
Following a period of six weeks where certain age groups and those who were most at risk of infection were prioritised, the Ministry is now urging all of those who are eligible to receive the vaccine to book in as soon as possible.
UAE citizens and residents who are aged 16 and above are able to receive the vaccination for free at any of the 205 vaccination centres available across the nation.
It was highlighted by the Ministry that a booking is required for all those eligible to receive their vaccine as those who are most vulnerable will continue to be prioritised without a booking.
It was outlined by the UAE earlier this year that the government aimed to have 50 per cent of the population vaccinated by March, a goal which has now been surpassed.
It was confirmed by Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, that as of Saturday 56.59 per cent of the eligible population had been vaccinated against COVID-19, while 72.89 per cent of elderly citizens and residents and those with chronic diseases had been inoculated against the disease.
At present, there are four COVID-19 vaccines available in the UAE.
The first vaccine to be approved in the UAE was the Sinophram vaccine, followed by the Pfizer vaccine being permitted in Dubai towards the end of last year.
In January, Russia’s Sputnik V was approved for emergency use. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was approved for use in Dubai last month.
