UAE’s GEMS Education launches drive to vaccinate 42,000 students

UAE-based education group GEMS Education has launched a school vaccination drive with the aim of inoculating over 8,000 eligible students aged 12 and over this week in Dubai.

The drive, which began on Sunday, May 23, is in collaboration with the authorities supplying doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to schools across the emirate.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Sunday night confirmed that it had opened bookings for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for those between the age of 12-15.

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

It came days after health officials from the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) approved the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children within this age group.

Read: Children between the age of 12-15 in the UAE now eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine

Elmarie Venter, chief operations officer, at GEMS Education, said: “GEMS Education has already started the vaccination drive with the vaccine for our students aged 12 and over, following the initiative last week of the authorities. More than 42,000 GEMS students are eligible to be vaccinated and 8,000 will be having this done this week – 1,800 have already received the vaccine.

“GEMS will continue its work throughout the summer to ensure all our schools remain as safe as possible for our communities and we are delighted to welcome 1,600 new teachers in August. These new teachers will also be vaccinated to join 14,700 GEMS teachers and school support staff who have already received a vaccine.”

GEMS Education is also working with the authorities in Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah to introduce a similar campaign in due course.

Maryssa O’Connor, Principal/CEO at GEMS Wellington International School, said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic the support of our whole school community has enabled our students to continue their outstanding educational experience at our schools. This strategy will ensure that our students and school community stay as safe as possible.”