Residents of the UAE have been urged not to travel during summer if they haven’t received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine. 

Dr. Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE health sector said on Sunday during a special press briefing that people who are not vaccinated with both doses must avoid traveling as they are at greater risk of getting infected with the virus and developing complications. “People planning to travel outside the country have been advised to avoid crowded places, wear masks at all the time and to maintain physical distancing, regardless of the Covid-19 protocols applied in those countries,” she said.

“We also advise people to wear masks continuously while using any means of transport, including planes, cars, buses, etc.” 

The official noted that some people are seeking getting additional doses of vaccine. She warned that it is not as per doctors’ advice and it may affect health. “We advise everyone to adhere to the advice of doctors in order to ensure their health and safety,” she said. 

She noted that over 71 per cent of UAE’s population has been administered with Covid-19 vaccine, which represents 91.8 per cent of the eligible group. She added that though the vaccine doesn’t prevent getting infected completely, it has proved to reduce the infection rates, hospitalization and admission to intensive care units and also reducing the death rate.