New shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Dubai
February 16, 2021, 11:07 am

New shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Dubai

Syringes with the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 disease. (File photo: AP)

A new shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has arrived in Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced.

The DHA has distributed the new batch across DHA health centers, which are dedicated to administering the COVID-19 vaccine in Dubai, according to a statement from the health body.

The DHA did not confirm how many many doses were in the new shipment.

In January, the DHA announced that Dubai had postponed its Pfizer-BioNtech vaccination campaign for people scheduled to receive their first dose of the vaccine, amid a global supply shortage of the dose.

The DHA begun its vaccination campaign last December, where it started administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

As the campaign expanded, the authority began providing the Sinopharm and Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccines as well, in order to provide the public with an opportunity to choose between various types of vaccinations.

Dr Farida Al Khaja, CEO of DHA’s clinical support services and nursing sector and chairperson of the COVID-19 vaccination steering committee, said that the vaccination campaign is currently targeting Emirati and resident elders, people with chronic disease who have a valid Dubai visa, frontliners and vital sector workers in both the public and private sector.

She stressed that priority will be given to elders who are above 60-years-old.

Al Khaja said that targeted groups can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment by calling the DHA Contact center on 800342. She pointed out that appointments for frontliners and vital sector workers will be scheduled in coordination and cooperation with government departments and the institutions in which they work.

Dr Al Khaja stressed the DHA’s great interest in simplifying all procedures for obtaining the vaccines and facilitating the journey of those targeted for vaccination, in addition to its keenness to provide a safe and healthy environment in all its medical centers and facilities.

source: Jennifer Bell

Image source: AP

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”