Coronavirus: Dubai Health Authority to give free Sinopharm vaccine to specific groups

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will begin allowing certain groups of people to receive a free dose of the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine at some of its facilities, the authority announced on Saturday.

Emirati citizens and residents above the age of 60 will be allowed to the take the Sinopharm dose at Nad al-Hamr Health Centre, al-Twar Health Centre or the al-Mankhool Health Centre, according to the DHA.

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The move comes as part of the DHA’s efforts to provide all members of the public with the opportunity to choose between the different vaccines available in the country, the authority said in a statement.

Currently only two vaccines are available in the United Arab Emirates, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Sinopharm vaccine.

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Reuters)

The Pfizer vaccine is currently only administering the dose to vulnerable groups, which includes the elderly.

“Providing the Sinopharm vaccine is part of the DHA’s keenness to ensure the availability of COVID-19 vaccination services to all segments of the community, especially the older age groups who are considered to be among the high-risk categories,” said CEO of DHA’s Clinical Support Services and Nursing Sector and Chairperson of the COVID-19 Vaccination Steering Committee Dr Farida Al Khaja.

“In the first phase of the launch of the vaccine, the DHA’s Contact Centre will reach out to those who already have pre-registered appointments for vaccination.”

The DHA will allow other groups of people to be vaccinated at its facilities at a later time.

The authority urged the public to continue to adhere to coronavirus countermeasures even after they receive their vaccinations.

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