Vaccines will be limited to the elderly, disabled, and people with chronic illnesses in the next six weeks, Abu Dhabi health chiefs said on Sunday.
It followed a nationwide decision by the Ministry of Health, which said all vaccine centres were now dedicated "only to the elderly and people with chronic diseases, in the light of the spike in infections over the past weeks".
Abu Dhabi residents who have had their first vaccine dose will be able to take their second as scheduled.
But people who have not yet had their first dose are expected to wait until next month.
Walk-in services will end and younger people will be seen by appointment only.
Last week, Dubai also restricted the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Emiratis and over 60s.
But what does this mean for people who have already booked an appointment or do not fall within these categories? The National explains.
What just happened?
The ministry restricted vaccine centres from administering inoculations except for people within specific priority groups. In Abu Dhabi, this includes people aged 50 and above, Emiratis and anyone with a chronic illness or disability.
In Dubai, only people aged 60 and above, people with a chronic disease or disability, Emiratis and frontline workers can book appointments for their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Health authorities said eligible chronic illnesses include heart diseases, diabetes and respiratory diseases.
The restriction is in place for four to six weeks as part of efforts to vaccinate vulnerable groups, following a sharp rise in cases last month.
What if I have already had my first dose of the vaccine?
If you have already received your first dose of a vaccine, you should receive your second as scheduled. On receiving your first dose, you will have had a second booked within 28 days. This appointment will not be affected by the announcement.
What if I have my first dose booked over the next month?
If you have booked to receive your first dose over the next four to six weeks, and you are not part of one of the priority groups, it will be rescheduled. You will either receive a message from the medical centre you booked with or must call to move your appointment until a few weeks into March.
Which vaccines are available in the UAE?
Four vaccines are available in the UAE. The Sinopharm and Sputnik V drugs are available across the UAE, although the latter is only for emergency use.
Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are available in Dubai. Currently, specific priority groups are being vaccinated in Dubai, with plans for a wider programme later in the year.
All are free and administered on a voluntary basis.
How can I book a Covid-19 vaccine appointment?
If you fit into one of the priority groups outlined by the government, you can receive the vaccine at any Seha centre without an appointment in Abu Dhabi or any other emirate.
Currently new bookings for people who do not fit into a priority group and have not been vaccinated are suspended. Once they resume, this is how you can schedule an appointment: Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm vaccine: how to book a shot in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and UAE
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Company%20profile
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
MATCH INFO
Serie A
Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
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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
