Amid the ongoing efforts to vaccinate the maximum number of people against COVID-19 in the UAE, Emirati doctors have strictly advised residents to not crowd at vaccination centres before getting a confirmed appointment slot. They have maintained that crowding at vaccination centres would increase the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

Authorities have recommended the residents to call the health facility before arriving at the vaccination centre or wait for receiving a confirmation for their appointment to take the vaccine shot.

Speaking to media, Dr Dirar Abdallah, a consultant of internal medicine at Prime Hospital in Dubai said that patients with confirmed appointments have to wait for 1-2 hours or even more to get the vaccine due to crowding at vaccination centres.

He further urged the public to avoid crowding outside medical centres, particularly where the vaccination drive is taking place. He also asked people with confirmed bookings to reach on time to receive the vaccine jab.

"Residents need to call and check with medical centres before heading to these facilities. Don’t stand in a queue for hours,” Dr Abdallah said.

Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, a specialist of Internal Medicine at Burjeel Specialty Hospital in Sharjah, also maintained that taking the COVID-19 vaccine is only a shield against the disease and it does not guarantee a 100 percent protection from the virus. He urged the public to continue strict adherence with COVID-19 precautions to limit the spread of the virus in the country.

“Being vaccinated doesn’t mean that you’re completely protected from the virus,” he said.

Wearing face masks, regular cleaning and sanitization of hands, maintaining proper hygiene, are some of the important precautions people can follow to safeguard themselves from COVID-19 infection. Doctors also advised high-risk people to not move around in public places to avoid getting infected.

Meanwhile, UAE citizens and residents can register for receiving the COVID-19 shots at: https://smartforms.moh.gov.ae/VaccinationBooking/AppPages/CovidVaccinationBooking