iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The two sides square off at The Oval in London from tomorrow
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Covid-19 vaccine UAE: Can I be compelled to take the jab?
Dubai - Know the law when it comes to Covid-19 vaccine distribution.
(alamy.com/ae)
Question: I have read that Covid-19 vaccines have been rolled out in Abu Dhabi. Can my company or the government force me to take the vaccine if I do not want to? Will it be legally okay to decline the vaccine? Please advise.
Answer: Pursuant to your queries, the provisions of Federal Law No. (27) of 1981 Concerning Communicable Disease Prevention (the Prevention of Communicable Disease Law) and Cabinet Resolution No. (17) of 2020 Regulating the Violations of Precautionary Measures and Instructions and Duties Imposed to Curb the Spread of Novel Coronavirus (the Cabinet Resolution) are applicable.
It is understood that the Government of Abu Dhabi has announced that the Covid-19 vaccine is available. However, until now the Government has not made any announcement whether it is mandatory for the residents of Abu Dhabi to take the said vaccine.
Article 22 (1) of the Prevention of Communicable Disease Law, states: “In areas of occurrence or possible occurrence of smallpox, cholera, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, tuberculosis, typhoid or any other epidemic disease that can be prevented by vaccination or immunisation, the Ministry may issue an announcement to be published in the Official Gazette and other media, specifying the infected area and compelling any person in the area to receive mandatory vaccination and immunisation for the prevention of the disease.”
Further, Article 1 (1) of the Cabinet Resolution, states: “A natural or legal person shall not violate the precautionary and preventive measures and instructions and duties regarding health and safety preservation in order to control the risk of spread of the coronavirus issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.”
In the event the Government of Abu Dhabi makes it mandatory for all the residents to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, then the aforementioned provision of law may be applicable.
It is recommended that you contact the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) for further information and advice related to Covid-19 vaccination rules and regulations.
Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom and India. Full details of his firm on: www.amalawyers.com. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, PO Box 11243, Dubai.
More news from
The NGO has empowered thousands of refugees to seize life-changing opportunities and migrate for work in various refugee hosting countries
The central probe agency was roped in by the Ministry of Railways after a preliminary inquiry flagged possible tampering with the electronic interlocking system
Small cameras, robotic arms and surgical instruments were inserted using small entry holes in the woman's lower belly
Take a look at who features on this niche list
The diversion raises questions over how quickly the Boeing 777, a high-profile US-built plane whose engines are made by General Electric, can be repaired amid US and European Union sanctions on exports of aviation items to Russia
UAE economy to grow at the fastest pace in GCC over the next 2 years
In March, both the countries agreed to re-establish relations