Inside Dubai’s new vaccine centre, where thousands can be immunised each day
Thousands of people are receiving Covid-19 vaccine doses at a new inoculation centre in Dubai.
It was a busy first week at Barsha Hall, where 4,000 people can be immunised in a day. The centre offers the PfizerBioNTech shot.
It is the second-largest vaccination centre in the emirate and is operated by the Dubai Health Authority. Only One Central at Dubai World Trade Centre is capable of delivering more injections on a daily basis.
The number of people who visited the centre during Ramadan is encouraging, said Salah Al Bahri, Barsha Hall’s operations manager.
“We have had a minimal number of people not turning up for their appointment, which is a positive sign,” he said.
“Even though it is Ramadan and people are fasting, they are sticking to the schedule.
“We are only taking prebooked appointments as we do not want any overlap between people just turning up as walkins.
“This is a DHA-operated site, so it has a similar operation to One Central and Al Twar health centre.
“We are pushing to finish all vaccinations by the end of 2021, as per the government criteria, and we are on course to do so.”
Barsha Hall has 20 checkin counters, 50 vaccination booths and five observation rooms. About 80 healthcare staff work at the site.
Visitors can book an appointment on the DHA app, then visit the centre to meet a nurse for a health check.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the vaccine is administered and the patient is monitored for 10 minutes.
Health officials in Dubai are encouraging people to book Covid-19 vaccinations throughout Ramadan.
Pfizer-BioNTech, OxfordAstraZeneca and Sinopharm shots are being delivered at various clinics.
Vaccination appointments were brought forward for those due to take the booster dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine after the period between the first and second doses was reduced from 12 to eight weeks.
Since March, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm vaccines can be administered to all people 16 years and above. Those aged 18 and above are eligible for the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot.
All GCC citizens with a valid national identity card can also be immunised at any of the 13 vaccination centres run by the DHA.
Several centres offer the Sinopharm vaccine, including a clinic at Dubai Parks and Resorts that can inoculate up to 5,000 people a day.