Covid19: UAE may set limits on unvaccinated residents

The UAE to consider imposing measures to restrict the movement of eligible unvaccinated people in the country, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) spokesperson said during a press briefing on Tuesday. The measures include preventing entry into certain places and access to some services to ensure the health and safety of all, state-run news agency WAM reported.

"Delaying or refraining from taking the vaccine poses a threat to the safety of society and puts all groups, especially those most vulnerable to infection, at risk," said the spokesperson, Saif Al Dhaheri, while urging residents aged above 16 years to get vaccinated.

Al Dhaheri added that receiving the vaccine will contribute to immunising and protecting the community from the pandemic. He noted that those with medical conditions should let a specialised doctor in clinics accredited by health authorities determine whether they are eligible for the vaccine depending on the health status of each individual.

The NCEMA called out people to learn about the vaccine from official sources and concerned authorities. Al Dhaheri stated that preliminary results of covid positive cases of two-dose recipients showed a very small percentage and that the vaccine's effectiveness ranged from very good to excellent.

As of Tuesday, the national vaccine campaign has succeeded in inoculating 5,081,853 people with the first jab and 3,836,521 with the second dose, thus, achieving nearly 66 per cent of the total eligible population.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the UAE health ministry recorded 1,903 new coronavirus cases taking the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 500,860. The total recoveries in the country were noted at 483,180, and the total death toll stood at 1,559.