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Discuss this article (5 Comments)UAE will buy 1m swine flu vaccines in next three months
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Thursday, 08 October 2009
FLU JAB: One million swine flu vaccines have been ordered by the UAE. (Getty Images)
Health officials have revealed the UAE will buy about one million swine flu vaccines over the next three months.
According to a report in Gulf News, the first batch is due to arrive in the next couple of weeks.
The Ministry of Health’s consultant pharmacist Dr Eisa Al Mansouri told the paper he wished the entire UAE population could be vaccinated against the potentially lethal H1N1 virus.
Related: Swine Flu Special Report
"If it was up to us, we would vaccinate all the UAE population. However there's a shortage [of] H1N1 vaccines from manufacturing companies. It will depend on how much the manufacturing companies will provide us with. In the meantime, we will initially vaccinate the five target groups," Al Mansouri said.
The target groups are; pregnant women, anyone aged between six months to 24 years, healthcare professionals, childcare personnel, and anyone aged 25 to 64 with existing medical conditions that put them at greater risk.
A further 6,200 people who are travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj will be immunised, the General Authority of Islamic and Awqaf Affairs confirmed to the paper.
According to the paper, the UAE is buying its swine flu vaccine from Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Al Mansouri sought to reassure residents of the vaccines safety, saying: "Side effects involved in the H1N1 vaccines are nothing but rumours. The side effects of the 2009 H1N1 flu shots are expected to be like those from seasonal flu shots.
“Some people might have a headache, muscle aches, fever and nausea or feel tired," Al Mansouri said.
Meanwhile, Saudi Health officials confirmed the deaths of two expatriates from swine flu, bringing the total number of people who have died from the virus in the kingdom to 28.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
why only 1 million
Posted by christine on Saturday 31 October 2009 at 09:31 UAE time
i hope when the one million arrives they will vaccinate one million from all kind of nationalities, we are waiting to see which school they will start, if it ll be only local schools or all private schools, i think all kids deserve to be vaccinated.
Posted by christine on Saturday 31 October 2009 at 09:31 UAE time
i hope when the one million arrives they will vaccinate one million from all kind of nationalities, we are waiting to see which school they will start, if it ll be only local schools or all private schools, i think all kids deserve to be vaccinated.
Swine Flu vaccine
Posted by Sushma, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 14 October 2009 at 08:45 UAE time
UAE will buy 1m swine flu vaccines for a population of 5 million. First it should begin a school flu vaccination drive so that all school children in the high risk group of below five are covered. Then all the pregnant women and people with existing conditions could be covered. But the ministry should also try to buy more vaccines as soon as possible.
Posted by Sushma, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 14 October 2009 at 08:45 UAE time
UAE will buy 1m swine flu vaccines for a population of 5 million. First it should begin a school flu vaccination drive so that all school children in the high risk group of below five are covered. Then all the pregnant women and people with existing conditions could be covered. But the ministry should also try to buy more vaccines as soon as possible.
Bank & Vaccine story
Posted by Meri, Manama, Bahrain on Saturday 10 October 2009 at 06:00 UAE time
Hey Jebel Ali baba, there is only 1million who can afford to pay. Haven't you seen a bank recently refuse customer who gets less than USD 5k a month.
And the message is ' oh you who cannot pay, pray'
Posted by Meri, Manama, Bahrain on Saturday 10 October 2009 at 06:00 UAE time
Hey Jebel Ali baba, there is only 1million who can afford to pay. Haven't you seen a bank recently refuse customer who gets less than USD 5k a month.
And the message is ' oh you who cannot pay, pray'
re: "Why 1 million only"
Posted by Buckeye, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 8 October 2009 at 18:12 UAE time
"If it was up to us, we would vaccinate all the UAE population. However there's a shortage [of] H1N1 vaccines from manufacturing companies. It will depend on how much the manufacturing companies will provide us with. In the meantime, we will initially vaccinate the five target groups," Al Mansouri said.
Posted by Buckeye, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 8 October 2009 at 18:12 UAE time
"If it was up to us, we would vaccinate all the UAE population. However there's a shortage [of] H1N1 vaccines from manufacturing companies. It will depend on how much the manufacturing companies will provide us with. In the meantime, we will initially vaccinate the five target groups," Al Mansouri said.
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