COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE: What you need to know

Abu Dhabi: A number of health facilities in the UAE are now offering the registered COVID-19 Sinopharm free of cost to residents. If you wish to get vaccinated for COVID-19, here is all you need to know.

Which vaccine is being provided?

The vaccine being provided is the inactivated vaccine developed by the Sinopharm CNBG’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products. It was officially registered in the UAE on December 9, 2020.

The dosage

The vaccine is being delivered in two doses three weeks apart.

How much does the vaccine cost?

As of now, licensed centres are offering the vaccine free of charge to residents.

How old do I have to be to receive the vaccine?

The vaccine is currently only being offered to residents aged 18 years and older. In some cases, those aged between 15 and 17 years old are being given the vaccine after a thorough medical evaluation.

Is anyone excluded from receiving the vaccine?

Some groups of people cannot currently receive the vaccine for their own safety.

• Anyone who is not haemodynamically (blood pressure and heartrate) stable

• Pregnant women

• Anyone with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines

• Anyone with a recent history of convulsions, epilepsy, encephalopathy or mental illness

• Anyone with a coagulation dysfunction

• Anyone who has had a live attenuated vaccine within one month, or other vaccines within the last 14 days

• Anyone with a recent history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or transverse myelitis (both are autoimmune diseases)

How can I register?

Seha

Call Seha on 80050 to book an appointment.

VPS Healthcare

Call on 8005546

WhatsApp – 0565380055

Visit www.covidvaccineuae.com and fill out the form to book an appointment.

NMC facilities

Call up the facility at which you wish to receive the vaccine.

What information do I have to provide when booking an appointment?

You would need to provide the following details:

1. Name

2. Gender

3. Age

4. Nationality

5. Employer name

6. Email

7. Mobile phone number

8. Emirates ID or passport number

9. Preferred location for vaccination

In many cases, facilities can trace personal details like name, age and gender when the Emirates ID details are provided.

How long does the vaccination process take?

The process of receiving the vaccine takes about 15 minutes per person, followed by 30 minutes of observation to ensure that the recipient is not facing any allergies or adverse reactions. However, women may take longer as they first have to undergo a pregnancy test.

What happens when I go to get the vaccination?

When you are first called in by the medical team, your vitals will be checked, including blood pressure, oxygen saturation and body temperature. A thorough medical history will be taken, including allergies, medication taken and COVID-19 infections and exposure.

Following this, a physician will consult with you to find out about your general health status and any chronic conditions.

You will then have to sign a consent form to receive the vaccine, which specifies that the vaccine is still undergoing testing, and includes undertakings for the second vaccine dose. It also includes another undertaking to follow COVID-19 precautionary measures so that others who have not received the vaccine are protected.

If you are female, you then have to take a urine-based pregnancy test. Once this is negative, you will be directed to the vaccination room, where a certified nurse will explain the minor side effects of vaccination, including soreness at the injection site and fatigue. You will also be instructed to seek medical help in case other more serious symptoms arise.

The vaccine will then be administered in the upper arm, and you will be instructed to wait at the facility.

After about 30 minutes, your vitals will be checked again, and a nurse will ask if you are feeling any discomfort. If you have nothing to report, you will be allowed to leave.

List of COVID-19 vaccination facilities

Abu Dhabi

Public facilities owned by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha)

Abu Dhabi city

• Al Zaafarana Centre Diagnostic and Screening Centre

• Al Bateen Health Centre

• Al Maqtaa Health Centre

• Mohammad Bin Zayed City Health Centre

• Baniyas Health Centre

• Khalifa City Health Centre

• Al Falah Health Centre

• Al Bahia Health Centre

Al Ain

• Oud Al Taibah Diagnostic and Screening Centre

• Hili Health Centre

• Al Yahar Health Centre

• Al Muwaiji Health Centre

• Mezyad Health Centee

• Neama Health Centre

• Al Quaa Health Centre

• Al Hayer Health Centre

• Sweihan Health Centre

Al Dhafra

• Al Dhafra Clinic in Madinat Zayed

• Madinat Zayed Hospital

• Ghayathi Hospital

• Al Mirfa Hospital

• Delma Hospital

• Al Sila Hospital

• Liwa Hospital

VPS facilities

• Burjeel Hosptial

• Burjeel Medical City

• Medeor 24×7 Hospital

• LLH Hospital

• Burjeel Medical Centre, Deerfields Hospital

• Burjeel Medical Centre, Al Zeina

• Burjeel Medical Centre, Yas Mall

• Burjeel Medical Centre, MHPC

• Burjeel Day Surgery Centre, Al Reem Island

• Burjeel Oasis Medical Centre, Beda Zayed

• Tajmeel Kids Park, Shahama

• Lifecare Hospital, Musaffah

• LLH Hospital, Al Musaffah

• Occumed Clinic, Musaffah

NMC facilities

• NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi

• NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa Centre

• NMC Royal Medical Centre, Shahama

• NMC Royal Medical Centre, Karama

• NMC Medical Centre, ICAD

• Bareeen International Hospital

• NMC Golden Sands Medical Centre

• NMC Specialty Medical Center, Khalidiyah

• NMC Alpha Medical Centre

• NMC Oxford Medical Centre

• NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

Dubai

• Dubai Parks and Resorts Field Hospital

Sharjah

• Wasit Health Centre

• Al Dhaid Health Centre

• Pearling Health Centre

• Pure Health Family Health Promotion Centre

• Al Madam Health Centre

• Kalba Health Centre

Ajman

• Al Hamidiyah Health Centre

• Mushairef Health Centre

Umm Al Quwain

• Bait Al Mitwahid Centre

• Falaj Al Mualla Health Centre

Ras Al Khaimah

• Al Marid Medical Centre

• Al Jazeera Health Centre

• Al Munaii Health Centre

Fujairah

• Mraished Health Centre

• Al Khulaibiya Health Centre

• Antana Health Centre