UAE Covid vaccine: Free jab now for all residents aged 16 and above

Free Covid vaccines are now open to all UAE residents, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced.

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This comes after the ministry prioritised the elderly and other vulnerable groups for the jab for six weeks.

Starting Sunday, March 21, all eligible residents aged 16 and above can book appointments to get the jab.

The vaccine is available for free at over 205 health centres in the country. Prior appointments are mandatory, the ministry said.

Over the last six weeks, over 72 per cent of senior citizens and those with chronic diseases in the country have received the Covid vaccine.

Overall, over 56 per cent residents have received the vaccine.

Four vaccines are available in the country: Sinopharm, Pfizer, Sputnik V and AstraZeneca.

As on March 20, the UAE has administered 7.18 million doses of the vaccine, with a distribution rate of 72.61 per 100 people.