UAE Covid vaccine: You may need to take the jab every year, says official

Abu Dhabi - Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector, says with the virus mutations Covid-19 vaccination is likely to be an annual affair like the flu jab.

People may need to get Covid-19 vaccine every year, said Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector.

Al Hosani made the remarks on Monday during a virtual panel discussion organised by the Maitha Bint Ahmed Al Nahyan Foundation for Community and Cultural Initiatives (MBAF), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC).

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New variants of Covid-19 have emerged recently, Al Hosani said, adding that the more mutant the virus, the more is the potential need to vaccinate annually against it.

She gave an example of the mutant flu vaccine which is given to communities every year.

Al Hosani revealed that some vaccines are given to people as young as 16 years and referred to ongoing clinical studies on three vaccines that could be administered to children in the future.

She revealed that 40-50 per cent of the people infected with Covid-19 do not feel any symptoms.

"Based on this, we increased focussing on old people. The earlier the detection of virus among old people and people with pre-existing conditions, the more chance the virus can be contained."

Sheikha Maitha bint Ahmed bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, board Chairperson of the MBAF, praised the wise leadership's proactive vision for containing the virus and for successfully providing the safe and effective vaccines.

• Abu Dhabi