Abu Dhabi offers walk-in appointments for Pfizer jab; new Covid-19 treatment approved in UAE

Health authorities in Abu Dhabi have confirmed that the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is now available on a walk-in basis within the emirate.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi said that it can now be availed without having to book prior appointments at more than 100 vaccination centres across the emirate.

.@DoHSocial announces the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is now available via walk-in at 100+ vaccination centres across Abu Dhabi emirate. The free vaccine is available for all unvaccinated citizens and residents aged 12 and above. pic.twitter.com/t95FkOWM2b

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) May 28, 2021

The vaccine is available for all unvaccinated citizens and residents aged 12 and above. A full list of these centres can be found here: doh.gov.ae

Additionally, the health authority also clarified that the Sinopharm booster dose is also available for free – also on a walk-in basis – to those who received their second dose of the vaccine at least six months ago at over 100 centres across Abu Dhabi.

As part of continuous efforts to protect public health, @DoHSocial is offering a free Sinopharm booster dose to those who received their second dose at least six months ago. The free booster is available by walk-in at any of the 100+ vaccination centres across #AbuDhabi. pic.twitter.com/9POGV21kSU

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) May 29, 2021

The neighboring emirate of Dubai too confirmed that it had opened bookings for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for those between the age of 12-15 earlier this month. In Dubai, the Pfizer jab is being administered via prior appointments, via the DHA app, for those between the age of 12-15 at Latifa Women and Children hospital, Hatta Hospital, Barsha Primary Healthcare Centre, Mizhar Primary Healthcare Centre and Zabeel Primary Healthcare Centre. It is also available via direct booking by calling the Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital.

Read: Covid-19 vaccine: Dubai opens bookings of Pfizer shot for 12-15 age group

New Covid-19 treatment approved in UAE
On May 29, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said that it has approved the emergency use of “Sotrovimab (Vir-7831)” for use within the country.

The UAE has therefore become the first country to both license and enable immediate patient use of the antibody treatment, after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized its emergency use.

It offers the prospect of reducing hospitalisation for more than 24 hours and fatalities by as much as 85 per cent when administered to patients as an early treatment for Covid-19, reported state-run news agency WAM.

The Sotrovimab drug, developed by healthcare company GSK and Vir Biotechnology, has been authorised for use for patients aged 12 and over with mild to moderate Covid-19 disease who are at risk of progression to hospitalisation or death. In pre-clinical studies, Sotrovimab has reportedly demonstrated effectiveness as a monotherapy against widely circulating variants of the disease.

“The new medicine will greatly contribute to speeding up the recovery of patients, reducing Covid-19-related deaths and hospitalization period in intensive care units,” said Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.

“We are pleased to partner with GSK to ensure that critical elements are in place to ensure early access, from licensing and shipments to training and new guidelines for doctors,” added Dr. Mohamed Salim Al Olama, under-secretary at Ministry of Health and Prevention, while noting that new guidelines are in place to aid doctors on the appropriate use of the drug and how to direct patients to the centres where Sotrovimab will be available.

Al Olama said that licensing the Sotrovimab treatment is in accordance with Law No. 8 of 2019 on Medical Products, Pharmacy Profession and Pharmaceutical Establishments.

On Saturday, MoHAP announced 1,812 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 567,263.