Ministry Of Health In UAE Administering H1N1 Vaccines

The shipment comprised of 40,000 units is now available across private and public schools, primary healthcare centres and preventive care departments in the UAE. The vaccine, which will be free of charge, is in the form of a single-use injectable and will be initially given to the most vulnerable people — children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic diseases — due to supply shortages.

Haj pilgrims will be administered the vaccine beginning today. According to the Ministry of Health the H1N1 vaccine is compulsory for Haj pilgrims.

Medical professionals, especially those working in emergency departments will follow. Next in line are children and adolescents from six months to 18 years old who will be classified according to age groups, and finally university students.

A single dose of the H1N1 vaccine is sufficient to give immunity against the H1N1 virus for one year, except for children under 10 years, who need two doses. It takes two weeks for antibodies to respond once the vaccine is administered.

“The person remains susceptible for two weeks, that’s why we started with Haj pilgrims, since we want to make sure the vaccine is effective by the time they reach Makkah,” explained Dr Mahmoud Fekri, CEO Health Policies and Head of the H1N1 National Scientific Committee.