Second shots pushed back as Dubai vaccine centre closes over two weekends

Appointments at Dubai Parks and Resorts will be rescheduled, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi says

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 at St Paul’s Church in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A vaccine is administered at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen hospital

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

Airport personnel unload a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. AFP

An Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 unloads a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. The airline is part of the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes also logistics giant DP World. Karim Sahib / AFP

People wait to enter a vaccination centre at Dubai's financial district on January 24, 2021. AFP

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

A teacher gives a thumbs up as he receives the Sinopharm vaccine in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Department of Education and Knowledge

A placard informs the public of the location of a designated Covid-19 vaccination centre in Dubai's financial centre district. AFP 

People in Dubai queue for a vaccine on January 24, 2021. AFP

A major vaccine centre in Dubai reopened on Sunday after closing on Friday and Saturday.

Health officials say it will shut again this weekend, but first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be administered by appointment during the week.

The centre is run by Seha, Abu Dhabi's government hospital operator. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi told The National on Sunday that the centre would resume seven-day service from Sunday, February 21.

At the weekend, some Dubai residents had their second coronavirus vaccine delayed at short notice.

Several residents also reported being turned away from the Dubai Parks and Resorts centre, despite having appointments confirmed on the Seha app.

The department said it would contact residents with appointments set for this weekend to reschedule them.

"Dose two of the vaccine is available during weekdays," it said.

"Residents scheduled to take the second dose will be called to reschedule their appointments this week."

Nationally, over-50s and people with disabilities are the priority for the next five weeks.

As a result, the vaccine push slowed to about 50,000 shots a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, although the UAE's campaign remains near the world's best.

One Dubai resident said he was sent away from the centre on Saturday morning.

"I was turned away on the bridge and told that it was closed due to system issues," he said. "They advised me to come back on Monday."

The British resident tried several other Seha-affiliated vaccination locations in Dubai at the weekend but was turned away from those too, and was unable to receive his second dose.

He had been keen to ensure he received both shots within 28 days of each other.

Another resident said she received a text message confirming her appointment.

“I’ve had an appointment for Saturday for a while,” she said.

“At 1.16am on Saturday I received an SMS saying it had been rescheduled to Sunday, and then at 8.03am on Saturday they sent me a message confirming the appointment for that day.

“I turned up at 9am and the centre was closed. Security did not say why it was closed and just advised me to go back on Sunday.”

Abu Dhabi health chiefs last week said vaccines would be limited to older age groups, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses, over the next six weeks.

Other residents who had their first dose were advised they would be able to take their second as scheduled.

But those who have not yet had their first dose will have to wait until next month.

The decision followed a nationwide move by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Dubai Health Authority in January postponed appointments for the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot amid a global.

Those who already received their first shot and had an appointment for the second were not affected, it said.

Countries across the world are facing vaccine shortages as demand outstrips supply.

But the UAE on Saturday reached a milestone when it administered its five millionth Covid-19 vaccine dose since the country's inoculation campaign began in December.