UAE Minister of Community Development Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid attended the launch of the second phase of the national vaccination campaign on Wednesday at the Customers’ Happiness Center in Jumeirah, Dubai. Launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the second phase of the campaign is aimed at vaccinating senior Emiratis against the COVID 19 disease in the country.

The campaign gives special priority to high-risk groups from COVID-19 including the elderly population, chronic diseases patients, and people of determination above 18 years old. It also seeks to ensure ease of access to the COVID-19 vaccine for these groups.

As per a WAM report, the campaign will be vaccinating more than 120 senior Emiratis in Dubai on the first day of the second phase. In the later days, authorities will continue their efforts to reach the maximum number of senior Emiratis across Dubai and the UAE in line with the national campaign #together_we_recover.

The Ministry launched the first phase of the vaccination campaign on January 10th from its Senior Emiratis’ Center in Ajman. On its first day, the ministry target 100 senior citizens and residents at the emirate.

In this regard, Hessa Tahlak, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Development at the Ministry of Community Development, highlighted the keenness of the ministry in collaboration with the relevant authorities to reach out to the high-risk groups of society and provide them with vaccination against COVID 19 and other necessary services. These efforts taken by the authorities also reflect the directives and vision of the UAE's wise leadership aimed at ensuring wellbeing for every individual in the country.

Tahlak affirmed the need for motivating senior Emiratis and their families, in general, to take the COVID-19 vaccine in line with the ministry's initiative to curb the pandemic crisis. She also called for public support towards national preventive efforts in order to facilitate full recovery from the pandemic, noting that it will require hard work and participation of all the community members. She stated that it is the responsibility of the community members to take the vaccine to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and help in the efforts of the government and concerned authorities to overcome the repercussions of the pandemic in order to ensure the resumption of normal life.

"We are aware of the fact that senior Emiratis are the most important group at all community levels, we are doing everything we can to enhance their health and safety due to the deep respect they have in our hearts," she added.

Tahlak stated that it is the duty of the Emirati authorities to provide COVID-19 vaccination to the high-risk groups and protect them from complications of the disease, noting that they are the most vulnerable groups to the disease.

She affirmed that the UAE is making great efforts to reach the recovery stage and provide the vaccine to all members of the community free of charge.

"The vaccine is the shortest and safest way to protect the community members by helping all individuals and families to reach recovery as quickly as possible," Assistant Undersecretary asserted. 

WAM