List of UAE-approved COVID-19 vaccines

Covid-19 vaccines UAE

We all must have probably seen or felt the impact of the Covid-19 in the world as the global economy and lives were affected. It's no news that many countries are still recovering from the effect of the recent pandemic which was at its peak in 2020. 

During that time, the process of manufacturing a vaccine to protect people from contracting the virus was still ongoing. Some countries' borders were temporarily closed to organize strong safety measures to reduce the fast spread of the virus.

UAE was able to reopen the border within a short period but strong preventive measures were strictly adhered to for safety. These precautionary measures included taking a PCR test primarily before any journey to and from the UAE to ensure no one is infected.

After a while of waiting, there finally came the Covid-19 vaccination for everyone to take and build a stronger immunity to the virus. It has always been free to take the Covid-19 vaccination in the UAE till this moment. You need to hold a UAE residence visa to be eligible for a free vaccine. 

There are 5 kinds of Covid-19 vaccines that are approved to be taken in the UAE. The exciting thing here is that they are all free of charge! 

Only UAE resident visa holders can get vaccinated here. Contact Emirabiz business setup advisors to find out how to become a UAE residence visa holder.

Covid vaccines available in UAE

There are 5 types of Covid-19 vaccines in UAE which are:

1. Sinopharm

This vaccine is originally from China. It requires two doses to complete the vaccination and after the first one, your health will be closely observed for any reaction. 

It takes 3 to 4 weeks after the first dose to complete the second dose. The Sinopharm vaccination is available across the UAE. This vaccine is provided by SEHA - the most comprehensive and largest healthcare network in the UAE which was established in 2007. 

Below are some SEHA  approved locations where the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine is available:

Aside from these locations listed above, the Sinopharm vaccination is available across various public and private hospitals in the UAE.

1. Pfizer-BioNTech’s

This is another Covid vaccine that is approved in the UAE. This vaccine is suitable for pregnant women and lactating mothers. This is probably because it is milder on the system and you are less likely to feel some reactions after taking the shots. The Pfizer second vaccine can be taken 21 days after the first shot. This vaccine is also recommended for:

• Anyone from 5 years and older
• Pregnant women
• Lactating mothers

Click here to view the available Covid-19 vaccination centers in Dubai, where you can take Pfizer vaccine, their contact details and locations. 

1. Sputnik V

This vaccine was initially launched in Russia by Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia, which is the world's leading research institute. In January 2021, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) announced its acceptance in the UAE for all residents. This is a two-way vaccination against the SARS-coV-2 coronavirus. It has a 91.4%  potency against the coronavirus and 100% effectiveness in a case where one is severely down with the Covid-19 illness.  

Prior to validating the Sputnik V Covid vaccination in the UAE, there has been a record of 33,000 people in Russia who successfully received the vaccine and remained in good conditions. And upon its approval in the UAE, 1,000 people volunteered to receive the first dose and were closely monitored by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. It was successful.

1. Oxford-AstraZeneca

This Covid-19 vaccine is Swedish-British made and can also be taken in two doses. You can take the second dose of the vaccine within 8 to 12 weeks after the first dose. This vaccine was recommended by the WHO strategic advisory group of experts (SAGE) after a series of successful experiments to evaluate its potency against the Covid-19 illness. 

It is considered to work similarly with the SputnikV Covid-19 vaccine because of their reactions in the body while taking effect to strengthen the immune system to fight the virus. There is a little evidence to support the claim that the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is safe during pregnancy.

However, residents who under medical advice feel like the benefits of taking the vaccine surpass the side effects can proceed to take the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

1. Moderna

This is also referred to as mRNA-1273. Under the trade name of Spikevax which is an American company, the Moderna vaccine was manufactured. The Moderna vaccine is taken in two shots and can be given a space of 28 days after the first dose to take the second dose. 

People from 18 years and above can take both the Moderna actual vaccine and an additional Booster shot from 6 months after the last dose of the vaccination. The Booster shot is also available at every Covid-19 health center. 

Booking appointment for the Covid vaccine in UAE

The Covid vaccination is available across many health centers in the UAE. So to book appointment for the vaccination section, you have to contact one of the following:

• UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the Emirate you are or download the MOHAP mobile application - 80011111 ia toll free number.
• Department of Health Abu Dhabi - 8001717 is a toll free number. 
• Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or their mobile app - 800342 is a toll free number.
• Abu Dhabi Healthcare Company (SEHA) - toll free number 80050.

Who is exempted from the Covid-19 vaccine in UAE?

People under some categories are exempted from taking any of the Covid-19 vaccinations for certain approved reasons according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH). 

Following are the individuals under the exempted group for COVID  vaccination:

• Covid-19 patients
• Volunteers of Covid-19 vaccine clinic trials
• Those who received the Covid-19 vaccine outside the UAE
• Individuals that are medically proven to show allergic reactions to vaccinations
• Those who have illness that may react harshly to the Covid-19 vaccines
• People below 18 years unless specified otherwise by any of the approved health care services above

How to apply for the covid-19 exemption certificate?

So if you fall under any of the categories above, you may have to visit healthcare authorities as listed above for the exemption certificate. 

Once you are done with the necessary procedure, you will be asked to wait for some time for approval or refusal via text or email. If approved, it will be reflected on your profile on the Al Hosn app.

To apply for the UAE Covid-19 vaccine exemption certificate for other Emirates  aside from Dubai and Abu Dhabi click here.   

Covid-19 vaccination centers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other Emirates of the UAE:

MOHAP vaccination centers Abu Dhabi
DHA Covid-19 vaccination centers Dubai
SEHA vaccination centers - Scroll down to the end of the page and on the UAE map locate the Emirate you are in and click on it to see the available Covid-19 vaccination centers.

It’s also easy to contact the relevant health authorities by phone to book your appointment for the vaccination. You can use the details above to reach any of the health authorities.

To know more about the Covid-19 vaccination procedures click here on the DHA website for updates.