National vaccination campaign immunise 52.46 per cent of target category: Minister

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, announced that the UAE has achieved new success related to its efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, by achieving the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign’s goal of vaccinating 52.46 per cent of the target category of the national population.

In the UAE Government’s media briefing on the pandemic, Al Owais said, "The campaign that was launched at the start of the year around the country, upon the directives of the country’s leadership, has vaccinated nearly 70.21 per cent of elderly people and those with chronic diseases, who are being prioritised."

According to daily reports on the campaign, the country has provided nearly seven million vaccine doses to more than 205 medical centres, marking considerable progress and making the UAE a leading country in terms of vaccinating its people, he added, stressing that this achievement highlights the leadership’s keenness to ensure people’s safety.

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He then pointed out that the UAE, since the start of the pandemic, has become an example of strategic handling, affirming that it was among the first countries to offer different types of COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens and residents.

He also highlighted the significant efforts of the national health sector and its cadres to provide the highest levels of protection to the people, as well as the substantial work taking place to offer the vaccine to the entire population, both citizens and residents, noting that the availability of the vaccine is one of the key achievements of the country in its battle against the pandemic, and the vaccine is available in different medical centres for free to both citizens and residents.

The UAE has provided nearly seven million vaccine doses to more than 205 medical centres.

Despite the provision of the vaccine, everyone must adhere to relevant precautionary and preventive measures to protect the community’s safety, even after being vaccinated, Al Owais further said.

Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, Official Spokesperson of the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA), addressed the latest procedures and instructions related to preventing the spread of the virus during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

He also congratulated the UAE’s leadership and people for the achievement announced by Al Owais and asserted that the country is a leading example of combatting COVID-19, noting that achieving the target percentage in record time reflects the country’s readiness and ability to manage crises.

This achievement is the outcome of the exerted efforts of all sectors and medical teams operating upon the directives of the country’s leadership, he added, stressing that the community’s health is a priority and its awareness and cooperation, along with the national efforts to reach the recovery phase, contributed greatly to this achievement.

"Under the framework of community responsibility and considering the customs and traditions of the Holy Month of Ramadan, we are announcing, today, a series of procedures and instructions aimed at maintaining public health and safety during the Holy Month," he said.

Al Dhaheri urged everyone to avoid majlis during Ramadan, as well as family visits and the distribution of meals between families, noting that only one family living in the same house can have iftar and suhoor meals together.

Nearly 70.21 per cent of elderly people and those with chronic diseases were vaccinated.

He also pointed out that family or organisational iftar tents or group iftars in public spaces will not be allowed, along with the distribution of iftar meals in front of houses and mosques, explaining that people who wish to distribute iftar meals may coordinate with charity associations, and Zakat and other donations may be donated online.

The distribution of meals and in-kind donations will be limited to official and registered national charity organisations according to approved protocols, he further added, stressing that restaurants will be prohibited from distributing iftar meals inside or in front of their premises, and meals can only be distributed to workers’ accommodation through direct coordination between restaurants and the management of workers’ housing units in every area while respecting social distancing rules.