Dubai's free Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine drive: How to book a jab

Dubai - The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be made available at four health centres in Dubai .

By Nandini Sircar

Published: Wed 23 Dec 2020, 8:55 AM

Last updated: Wed 23 Dec 2020, 9:02 AM

Dubai has announced the free rollout of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 starting today. However, there is a protocol that needs to be adhered to before citizens and residents can book an appointment with the accredited healthcare centres.

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When you call the hotline number 800342 the IVR guides you to a voice that explains that the vaccine in this phase is prioritised for senior citizens, only Dubai residents who have a valid visa from the emirate and anybody with a chronic illness above the age of 18.

Additionally, an official at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) explained that to book an appointment, the residents must provide them with the Medical Record Number (MRN) first.

Those who do not have the MRN must write to info@dha.gov.ae to book an appointment providing a photocopy of the Emirate ID (front and back) mentioning the mobile number.

According to sources, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be made available at four health centres in Dubai — Zabeel, Al Barsha, Nad Al Hammar and Al Mamzar.

Momentum for the vaccine drive increases after the Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management issued a statement saying that an extensive vaccination campaign against Covid-19 will kick off in the emirate on Wednesday.

This is the second voluntary vaccine roll out in the country after the UAE began administering China’s Sinopharm vaccine to all citizens and residents free of cost from December 9.

While Sinopharm vaccine is 86 per cent effective, according to UAE regulators, Pfizer’s test results show its coronavirus vaccine is 95 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19 after two doses — administered 21 days apart — with no serious safety concerns.

(Developing story)