Dubai to vaccinate all eligible categories in next few months
SENIOR OFFICIAL ANSWERS QUERIES ON HERD IMMUNITY, VACCINATING KIDS
Vaccine priority is currently being given to high-rish groups, but Dubai aims to vaccinate the bulk of the population the end of the first quarter, a senior official said.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Dr Hanan Al Suwaidi, chair of testing stream at the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre, pointed out that recent updates by the UAE Government show that more than 50 per cent of the target vaccination groups have received at least one dose. The UAE has crossed the six million mark in vaccinations.
Dr Al Suwaidi, who is also assistant professor of family medicine at the Mohammad Bin Rashid University in Dubai, answered questions fundamental to the national vaccination programme and its impact on public health.
When will non-priority groups be vaccinated?
We are moving well along the priority vaccination drive and I think by the end of the first quarter this year, we should be able to open it up for all the eligible population in Dubai.
I say eligible population because there is an age limit of 16 years for Sinopharm and 18 years for the other two vaccines (Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNtech). Moreover, there will always be members of the community who are not able to take the vaccine for medical reasons. Barring the age limit and medical reasons, our aim is to vaccinate 100 per cent of the adult population in Dubai and we are on track.
If the evidence actually shows that it is both safe as well as effective in children, then it will be rolled out for children. However, we are not there yet.”
Dr Hanan Al Suwaidi | Chair of testing stream at the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre
Why is priority important?
Vaccine priority is very important to ensure that individuals who are at a higher-risk of illness if they get Covid-19 are vaccinated. It is also pertinent for individuals who are at a higher risk of contracting the illness due to the nature of their job (frontliners) are vaccinated on a priority basis.
Is there a plan to provide the vaccine to children?
We are watching that evidence as it evolves very closely. When the right time comes and if the evidence actually shows that it is both safe as well as effective in children, then it will be rolled out for children. However, we are not there yet.
How much of the population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity?
Herd immunity takes place when a large number of people in a community become immune to a certain disease, making it difficult for the infection to spread.
Typically, most scientists and vast majority of the literature suggests that 70 per cent of the population needs to be immune — through natural immunity (developing antibodies after a Covid-19 infection) or through vaccinations — for this particular infectious disease to start to subside.
Why is it critical to continue taking precautions even after getting vaccinated?
It takes time to achieve herd immunity and we have not reached there yet. Even after completing both doses of the vaccine, every individual must continue to take all preventive measures, including wearing a mask, social distancing and hand washing or using a sanitiser. Moreover, all other preventive measures put in place for both close contacts and home-isolation patients must be followed.
How can one book an appointment in Dubai?
It is a very straightforward process for the eligible population. Appointments can be booked through the 800 342 DHA toll free number and the DHA app by following a few simple steps.