An elderly person interacts with health officials after being vaccinated at his residence in Sharjah on Monday. WAM

Syed Shayaan Bakht, Staff Reporter

Sharjah began vaccinating elderly people from Monday as part of the plan to vaccinate 50% of the UAE’s population by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

The Sharjah Social Services Department said that it has received more than 300 requests to provide home vaccination against COVID-19 for senior citizens, differently-abled, the mentally ill and their families at home across the emirate since the start of the home vaccination service two days ago.

The department, in cooperation with the Sharjah Medical District and the Ministry of Health and Prevention, is conducting the operations.

The department received requests via the toll-free number 800700, to provide home vaccination service for a certain group of people in Sharjah.

The Sharjah Social Services Department’s branches are at Al-Dhaid, Al-Madam, Al-Bataih, Mlieha, Khor Fakkan, Kalba, Dibba Al-Hisn, and Al-Hamriya.

The Sharjah Social said that it would continue its home vaccination campaign for senior citizens and their families and confirms that 12 mobile units have been deployed this week to visit the homes of citizens and provide vaccinations against COVID-19.

The Sharjah Social shared a video of elderly people receiving vaccine shots at their residences.

An elderly man was seen praising the Sharjah government’s efforts and giving away blessing to the medical team administering the vaccine.     

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for all community members, except the following categories:

• Pregnant women

• Nursing mothers

• People with immunodeficiency diseases

• Women planning to become pregnant in the near future (3 months from taking the vaccine)

• Children under the age of 18 years

• Those who are allergic (to any vaccine, food, medicine, or substance or those who carry self-injectable adrenaline)

Those who wish to get the vaccine shots can go directly to healthcare centres during working hours, without the need for prior appointment.