Children get vaccine shots in 10 minutes in Dubai as drive-thru facility opens

Dubai - From payments to consultation and insurance approvals, everything is done online.

A drive-thru vaccination clinic for children has been launched in Dubai where all procedures will be done within 10 minutes.
The emirate's first express drive-thru clinic at Prime Medical Centre, Jumeirah, has designated parking spaces connected to a room where vaccine shots are given to children. From payments to consultation and insurance approvals, everything is done online prior to the arrival of the child at the clinic.
Dr Manejah Majeed, medical director at the centre, said:  "With the (Covid-19) pandemic ... a lot of children due for the mandatory vaccinations are missing their immunisation shots. So, we thought  of extending our telehealth services to include children's vaccination. The assessment of the  child is now done over the phone with the doctor - checking the child's weight, health status, and vaccine card among others. It aslo ensures the child's safety as he/she doesn't have to enter the main clinic building."
Dr Rafia Owera, specialist paediatrician at the medical centre, said: "Since all paperwork is done online, a team of doctor and nurses will be waiting to receive the child at the the clinic. After insurance approvals, we inform parents to visit us in three days - Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.
"As soon as they come, we take the child's vitals and give the shots. We are now focusing on mandatory vaccines given to the child - at two months, four months, one year, 18 months and five years," she said.

A happy parent who used the service, said:  "I used the drive-thru to vaccinate my three-year-old daughter while my wife and younger son waited in the car. I did the same with my younger son. The whole process took less than 10 minutes."
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai