Covid-19 vaccine volunteers in UAE can get flu shots

Last week, the UAE approved the emergency use of the vaccine for frontline health workers.

Volunteers who received the Covid-19 vaccine in the UAE can also get a shot against seasonal influenza, an official has said, stressing that this jab won't affect the clinical trial they signed up for.

Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the National Clinical Committee for Covid-19 and principal investigator of the phase 3 clinical trials for the vaccine, even encouraged the volunteers to get vaccinated against flu, like anyone else above six years old, according to a report by Emarat Al Youm.

Dr Al Kaabi added that they can also undergo PCR tests if they wish to travel outside the country.

More than 31,000 of 125 nationalities have come forward to volunteer for the inactivated Covid-19 vaccine's phase 3 clinical trials in the UAE. Initial results of the operation were encouraging, Al Kaabi said. All noted side effects had been mild and similar to those that come with any other vaccine.

Last week, the UAE approved the emergency use of the vaccine for frontline health workers. Teachers of public schools in Abu Dhabi have also been given the option to register for the jab, according to a recent circular.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com