UAE COVID vaccine: Over 600 staff, students of Amity take the jab in 1 day

The opportunity to take the jab was extended to staff and family members of schools in Dubai and Sharjah - Amity School Dubai, Amity Early Learning Centre and Amity Private School Sharjah. School buses were organised from each school to the university campus and back for the initiative.

The university launched the campaign on January 24. The indoor sports arena was cleared out and converted into a vaccination centre that received over 600 staff, students and family members for the first dose. All safety precautions were put in place, such as ensuring everyone wears masks and maintaining a safe distance between each other. The university set up vaccine stations, registration desks, waiting areas and PCR testing zones that were supervised and managed by the university’s appointed health and safety officers.

On the day of the first dose, all those who came for the shot had to first take the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test before getting the vaccination. The university received the results for the test a day after the vaccination and was happy to announce that all participants who took the first dose were Covid-free.

The university organised the second dose of the vaccine on February 17 in a similar fashion.

Elaborating about the process, the university statement said: “On both days, staff, students and family members could visit the campus anytime between 9am and 5pm to get their vaccination. An email was initially sent out to the university and our school community to gauge interest and assess numbers…Our leadership team, Amity Education ME CEO Dr Vajahat Hussain and Amity University Dubai Pro Vice Chancellor Dr N Ramachandran, were the first to take the vaccination."

Dr Hussain, said: “The UAE has the highest rate of coronavirus vaccinations in the world. We are fortunate to live and work in a country that has made the vaccination process swift and easy for all its residents. Our staff, teachers and professors work closely and tirelessly with students of all ages. It is our duty to protect them and keep them safe. At Amity Education, we focus on bringing about change, empowering communities and making the world a better place. This initiative was a great way to encourage other communities to do everything they can to support their people. We must leave fear aside and come together in times of crisis, by inspiring others to do the right thing; this is what will help us achieve a sense of normalcy and create a safer environment for our youth to proposer.”