While the number of Covid-19 vaccinations has increased in Ajman schools, most pupils are waiting until after their final exams before having the shot.
Fifty pupils at Al Shola American School in the Al Muwaihat area signed up to get the Pfizer vaccine and 20 of them received their first dose at Ajman University’s vaccine centre last week.
But most want to be inoculated after their exams to avoid any side effects.
“I want to take it so we get back to our normal lives,” said Aseel Nabeel, 13, a pupil from Palestine.
Many of our pupils haven't made up their minds because of the final exams. Else, the list would have been much longer
“But I want to wait just in case I suffer any side-effects. I would rather take it after my tests,” said the eighth-grader.
Mohammed Salah, head of a Covid-19 committee at the private school, said hundreds of pupils are eligible to be vaccinated and believes more will sign up in the coming weeks.
“Many of our pupils haven’t made up their minds because of the final exams. Else, the list would have been much longer,” he said.
“They don’t want to suffer any possible side-effects while studying for their end-of-year tests.”
According to The Ministry of Health and Prevention, it is normal to have minor side effects, such as a sore arm and pain in the first week after receiving the vaccine.
The school started the registration 10 days back with a vaccine awareness campaign.
It held lectures, distributed brochures and posted videos on the school’s Facebook page to encourage more children to get vaccinated.
Parents were informed about their children’s decisions.
“Some pupils took the decision after discussing it with their parents and we contacted them,” Mr Salah said.
Seventh-grader Mazin Mahmoud, from Egypt, was vaccinated last week.
“I asked my teacher about the safety of the vaccine, but only because I wanted to know. I am not scared,” he said.
“I made my own decision and my parents were proud of me.
“It was almost painless and now I feel safer,” said the 12-year-old.
Abdullah Firas, 12, is another pupil who has been vaccinated.
“My father encouraged me and told me it would boost my immunity, so I signed up and took it,” he said.
“The vaccine has been developed by scientists who work to make our lives safer, so I don’t think there is any reason to be afraid.”
Farah Hani, 12, researched the vaccine as part of a school project.
“It helped me understand the importance of the vaccine and I decided to sign up. There is no reason to be afraid,” she said.
But her peer, Mira Mohammed, who will turn 12 in October, said she needs more time to think about it.
“I know it's good and important but I'm scared,” she said.
Blessy Jinu, the school nurse, has been tasked with explaining the importance of the vaccination and putting the pupils’ minds at ease.
“I first ask pupils what ideas and fears they have about the vaccine,” Ms Jinu said.
The UAE approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged between 12 and 15 on May 13.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the approval was given after the country carried out successful clinical trials and assessments.
The approval supports the national efforts to fight the pandemic and protect children in this age group.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
