Our Correspondent
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said on May 5 that 17 private healthcare service providers will now provide vaccination services in addition to the DHA vaccination centres.
The two vaccines presently available in Dubai are Pfizer BioNTech and Sinopharm. While DHA centres offer both at the moment, the private healthcare facilities only offer the Sinopharm vaccine now.
The vaccine is available for free to Dubai residence visa holders, GCC nationals who have an Emirates ID and elderly residents above 60 who live in Dubai but have a residency permit issued in another emirate, reported news agency WAM.
For booking appointments at private hospitals, customers should directly contact the facility of their choice over the phone or whatsapp.
However, for appointments at any DHA vaccination centre, customers should download the DHA app. Those above 60 years can call 800 342 to book their appointments at DHA centres.
Authorities said that all those who are scheduled to receive the second dose of their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will continue to receive it either in Al Garhoud Medical Fitness Centre or Al Twar Dialysis Centre.
“The vaccines will continue to be provided free of cost. Extending the vaccination drive in partnership with private healthcare providers aims to expand capacity and enhance access and convenience for the public,” said Dr. Farida Al Khaja, CEO of Clinical Support Services and Nursing Sector at the DHA and chairperson of the Covid-19 Vaccination Steering Committee.
Al Khaja added that in addition to these centres, the Wellness on Wheels initiative of the DHA and Mohammed bin Rashid University for Health Sciences (MBRU) is continuing; it features two mobile clinics that provide vaccination to the elderly, labourers and underprivileged members of society. DHA also has a mobile vaccination drive for government agencies.
She added that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also available at the Dubai Parks Health Centre and the Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital.
Additionally, the DHA is providing home vaccination services in cooperation with Dubai Ambulance Corporation and Community Development Authority.
As of May 5, over 10,700,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered thus far, at a rate of 108.99 doses for every 100 persons, while the total number of Covid-19 tests performed has reached 45 million.
