Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, recently paid a visit to a number of vaccination centres across the emirate which are administering COVID-19 vaccines free of cost to both citizens and residents. During his visit, he urged all community members to take the COVID-19 vaccines in order to protect themselves and others from the pandemic.

Dubai authorities have set up COVID-19 vaccination facilities in diverse regions across the emirate, as per the directives issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The operations at these vaccination facilities are regularly monitored by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in line with the government's efforts to promote a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Sheikh Mansoor affirmed that the UAE leadership is strongly committed to ensuring the highest levels of health and safety to all members of the community. He further noted that the rising demand for COVID-19 vaccines among the public reflects the success of the efforts taken by Dubai and UAE government against the pandemic crisis. Sheikh Mansoor further noted that the guidance and vision of the UAE leadership have been instrumental in the current success of the national vaccination campaign.

Hailing the successful efforts of the task forces in addressing the pandemic, Sheikh Mansoor noted that this progress has been driven by an integrated multi-pronged strategy adopted by the UAE to tackle COVID-19. He also lauded the concerted efforts made by various stakeholders and personnel at both local and federal levels, particularly frontline workers, in the fight against the virus.

"To consolidate the progress that has been achieved, we call on everyone to continue stringently adhering to precautionary measures. The community’s commitment is vital in ensuring a full restoration of normalcy," he added.

As per a WAM report, Sheikh Mansoor visited various dedicated COVID-19 vaccination facilities set up at healthcare centres across Dubai. During this visit, he was accompanied by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.

He first visited the vaccination facility at the Al Lisaili Health Centre, established by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, where he was received by Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais. At the vaccination facility, Sheikh Mansoor reviewed the operations and procedures followed by the specialised medical personnel while administering the vaccines to the public.

Later, he visited the Dubai Parks and Resorts Field Hospital vaccination centre, set up by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA). At the facility, he was briefed about the operations and the availability of the vaccine by Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Group Chief Operations Officer at SEHA and Dr. Mubarak Al Darmaki, Chief Operating Officer at Alrahba Hospital.

Concluding his tour, Sheikh Mansoor visited the newly-established One Central COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in the Dubai World Trade Centre area. He was received by Dr. Amer Sharif, Head of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre who also briefed him about the operations at the vaccination centre and necessary safety precautions taken by the medical personnel while administering the vaccines to the public.

As of now, a total of 120 vaccination centres have been set up across the emirate to provide the COVID-19 vaccines to all residents and citizens. Some of the hospitals administering the COVID-19 vaccines are Rashid Hospital; Hatta Hospital; Uptown Mirdiff Medical Fitness Centre; Dubai Hospital; Latifa Hospital; Mediclinic Hospital Network (13 locations) and three mobile units.

Primary Healthcare Centres providing the vaccination facilities include: Al Mizhar Health Centre; Al Safa Health Centre; Al Badaa Health Centre; Nad Al Sheba Health Centre; Zabeel Health Centre; Al Barsha Health Centre; Nadd Al Hamar Health Centre; Al Mankhool Health Centre; Al Twar Health Centre; Al Lisaili Health Centre.

At the same time, the vaccine is also being provided at various Union Health Centres including: Dubai Parks & Resorts Field Hospital; Hor Al Anz Health Centre; Al Qusais Health Centre; screening centres at Al Khawaneej and Port Rashid; Emirates Specialty Hospital (22 locations); NMC Hospitals Network (nine locations) and Burjeel Network, VPS Network (two locations).

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has also stated that plans are in progress to increase the number of healthcare centres administering the COVID-19 vaccines across the emirate with the aim of intensifying the national vaccination campaign and meet the surging demand for the vaccine among the public.

According to the DHA, the One Central COVID-19 Vaccination Centre established by the Authority in the Dubai World Trade Centre can accommodate at least 4,000 people per day.

Furthermore, the Authority has also launched COVID-19 vaccination facilities at two new health centres in Al Twar and Mankhool and set up three centres dedicated for frontline workers at Latifa, Dubai and Rashid hospitals. These vaccination facilities have been established in line with the proactive efforts of the DHA to vaccinate the maximum population and enhance access for all citizens and residents.

The DHA has also ensured that it is closely monitoring the progress of the vaccination campaign across all centres with regards to the process of registration and booking the appointments through the DHA app and the toll-free number 800 342.

The Authority is also working on boosting the vaccination drive in the emirate by launching new centres to ensure that the vaccine is easily accessible to all members of the community, particularly the targeted groups in the current phase. It has assured that the next phase of the vaccination drive will witness the launch of more medical centres to meet the increasing demand of the COVID-19 vaccine.

WAM