Covid-19: All you need to know about Dubai’s Pfizer vaccination campaign

Dubai has commenced its Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination campaign after receiving the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine on December 22.

The campaign will see Dubai Health Authority (DHA) providing the vaccination in a phased manner, Dubai Media Office reported. The vaccine, recently approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration, was registered by the UAE’s health ministry late on Tuesday.

#Dubai Health Authority, in coordination with #Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management, & the COVID-19 Command & Control Centre, begins COVID- 19 vaccination ‘Pfizer- BioNTech’ campaignhttps://t.co/zJf5NUnX9G pic.twitter.com/hu40S4O6mZ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 23, 2020

The vaccinations will be available at six DHA facilities, including: Zabeel Health Centre, Al Mizhar Health Centre, Nad Al Hamar Health Centre, Al Barsha Health Centre, Uptown Occupational Health Screening Centre and Hatta Hospital. UAE residents can register and book appointments for receiving their shot through the DHA app or the toll-free number 800 342.

#Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management:@DHA_Dubai starts an extensive vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in Dubai.Vaccination will use Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine and is free of charge. Booking available through DHA App, or call the toll free number 800342. pic.twitter.com/dQhVzF0k2z

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 23, 2020

Campaign rollout

In the initial phase of the campaign, the inoculation will be carried out across four categories:

First category
UAE nationals and resident elders aged 60 years and above, people with chronic diseases and people of determination

Second category
The second category includes frontliners in both the public and private sectors

Third category
Vital-sector workers

Fourth category
Members of the public who wish to get vaccinated

First recipients
The first individuals to receive the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine in Dubai included senior citizen Ali Salem Ali Aladidi and Shamaa Saif Rashid Alalili; Asha Susan Philip – a nurse at DHA; Asif Khan Fazle Subhan – a driver at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Adel Hassan Shukralla from Dubai Police.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the second vaccine available in the UAE after the Sinopharm vaccine was approved last month.

Read: Covid-19: Dubai to begin ‘extensive’ free Pfizer vaccination campaign

Meanwhile, the vaccine also received the green signal from the UAE Fatwa Council, in the wake of growing concerns among Muslims over their halal status.