Dubai will end Covid-19 vaccination campaign by December 2021, says taking jab is not compulsory

In a wide-ranging set of brief Q&A videos broadcast by the Dubai Media Office on Wednesday, January 20, Dr. Farida Al Khaja, CEO of Clinical Support Services and Nursing Sector, chairperson of the Covid-19 Vaccination Steering Committee at the Dubai Health Authority answered several questions with regards to the vaccine itself and the vaccination campaign currently underway.

Is vaccination compulsory? What are the procedures for getting the vaccine in Dubai?
The vaccine is free of charge. It’s not compulsory – it’s optional. People can book the vaccination through the DHA app or they can call 800 342 the call centre of the vaccine and by answering certain questions they can get the eligibility for registration of the vaccine.

Is vaccination compulsory ? What are the procedures for getting the vaccine in @DHA_Dubai ?#AskDXBdoctor pic.twitter.com/ualeprBsFZ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 20, 2021

How long will the vaccination campaign last?
The campaign will last for one year. We are supposed to end by December 2021 once we hit the target – our target is to vaccinate 70 per cent of the population of Dubai.

When will the second phase of the vaccination begin? When will everyone be allowed to receive the vaccine?
We are in the first phase of the vaccination which is supposed to end by March 2021 by covering all the priorities categories which was determined. The second phase was supposed to start in April 2021. However, if we could finish the first phase before March we will definitely open the vaccine to everyone who are locals and residents of Dubai.

(It must be noted here, that Dr. Farida is most likely referencing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. However, the Sinopharm vaccine is being administered to non-priority categories of people too.)

I recovered from Covid-19 earlier. Can I get vaccinated?
People who are infected by the virus can get the vaccine three months post the infection.

Who are the people who cannot get vaccinated?
We have several people who are excluded from the vaccine. These are pregnant women, breastfeeding women, women who are planning to get pregnant within the coming three months, and also people who have some immune deficiency disease and people who are severely allergic to the vaccine itself

When can a person who received the vaccine not wear a mask?
Wearing a mask is a must and we ask all the people to wear a mask whether they have been vaccinated or not.

Do you recommend individuals with chronic diseases to get the vaccine?
Covid-19 vaccine is designed for so many categories and one of the most important priority is chronic disease – so people with a chronic disease should get a vaccine to protect themselves.

Can I travel after getting vaccinated?
You can travel after getting the vaccine. However, you must make sure that you are available for the second dose which is 21 days after the first dose.

Is it safe to have more than one type of Covid-19 vaccine?
It’s not safe to take different vaccines for the same disease as per the scientific studies that are available.