UAE: Covid vaccine drive picks up ahead of onsite classes

Abu Dhabi - The vaccines are available for free at the centres for two weeks starting today.

The UAE has intensified the Covid-19 vaccination campaign ahead of re-opening of onsite classes of schools on January 17. The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, on Sunday said they have set up three dedicated vaccination centres in Fujairah and Ajman for teachers and school administrative staff to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

The centres will administer the jabs to all teachers, employees of private and government educational institutions and students aged over 18 years.

The vaccines are available for free at the centres for two weeks starting today.

The two centres in Fujairah are: Hamad Bin Abdullah Al Sharqi Secondary School and Dibba Fujairah and Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi Secondary School, Fujairah and will be open from 9am to 3pm.

The United Arab Emirates University, in cooperation with the Department of Health — Abu Dhabi, had also announced organising a free Covid-19 vaccine campaign from January 11 to January 13, 2021.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation had last week urged the education community to get the Covid-19 vaccines.

Sheikh Abdullah, who is also Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council, urged employees in government and private educational facilities, including teachers and administrators, to get the jab.

Meanwhile, churches have joined the UAE’s National Vaccination Programme. Over the weekend, St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi facilitated the vaccination of 7,000 people. More churches will be offering the jabs to members of the community in the coming weeks.