You might be inclined to head to the doctor every time your little one shows signs of even the smallest sniffle, but when there s a pandemic on the loose, it’s advisable to avoid healthcare settings as much as possible to limit the risk of exposure to the virus. But what about the regular baby check-ups for vaccinations? We know they are important, but are they really that time sensitive?
“Vaccinations of young children should be a top priority,” says Dr Nitin Verma, Consultant Paediatrician, Kings College Hospital, Dubai Marina and Dubai Hills. “The World Health Organization (WHO) said recently that disruption of immunization services, even for brief periods, will result in increased numbers of susceptible individuals and raise the likelihood of outbreak-prone vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles.”
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The health authorities in the UAE are urging the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as cases rise worldwide.
They renewed their call this week after the country exceeded 3,000 daily cases for the first time.
More than 1.8 million vaccine doses were given to Emiratis and residents since the start of a campaign last month.
The UAE authorised use of the Sinopharm vaccine across the country. In Dubai, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also available to prioritised groups.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get vaccinated in the Emirates.
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available at seven Dubai Health Authority facilities. These are: Al Safa Primary Healthcare Centre, Zabeel Primary Healthcare Centre, Al Mizhar Primary Healthcare Centre, Nad Al Hamr Primary Healthcare Centre, Al Barsha Primary Healthcare Centre, Uptown Mirdif Medical Fitness Centre and Hatta Hospital.