UAE Covid vaccine: Doctors advise not to crowd outside centres

Government authorities are recommending UAE citizens and residents to register for their jabs online. — Photo by Shihab

Dubai - Residents should arrive at the facility only after their appointment to take the jab has been confirmed.

by Dhanusha Gokulan

Published: Tue 9 Feb 2021, 10:21 AM

Doctors in the UAE have strictly advised residents to avoid crowding at vaccination centres before receiving an appointment slot as it increases the risk of contracting Covid-19.

It has also been recommended that residents call the health facility or arrive at the clinic only after their appointment to take the jab has been confirmed.

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Dr Dirar Abdallah, a consultant of internal medicine at Prime Hospital, Dubai, said: “We’ve been hearing from our patients that they’re having to wait for one to two hours, and at times even more, to get the vaccine. They are crowding outside these centres.”

He urged people to avoid crowding outside medical centres, where the vaccination drive is in progress.

“Be on time for your appointments. Residents need to call and check with medical centres before heading to these facilities. Don’t stand in a queue for hours,” said Dr Abdallah.

Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, a specialist of Internal Medicine at Burjeel Specialty Hospital in Sharjah, said taking the jab is only a shield against Covid-19 but doesn’t mean a 100 per cent guarantee against the viral disease.

“Being vaccinated doesn’t mean that you’re completely protected from the virus. It’s crucial that you follow the safety precautions strictly,” he said. “Proper hygiene, sanitisation of hands, social distancing and wearing face masks would protect you from getting infected. It’s also advised for high-risk people not to venture out into public places.”

Government authorities are recommending UAE citizens and residents to register for their jabs at the following link: https://smartforms.moh.gov.ae/VaccinationBooking/AppPages/CovidVaccinationBooking.