Health and Safety

COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organization (WHO) first learned of this new virus on 31 December 2019, following a report of a cluster of cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
• Fever
• Dry cough
• Fatigue
Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include:
• Loss of taste or smell,
• Nasal congestion,
• Conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes)
• Sore throat,
• Headache,
• Muscle or joint pain,
• Different types of skin rash,
• Nausea or vomiting,
• Diarrhea,
• Chills or dizziness.
Symptoms of severe COVID‐19 disease include:
• Shortness of breath,
• Loss of appetite,
• Confusion,
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest,
• High temperature (above 38 °C).
Other less common symptoms are:
• Irritability,
• Confusion,
• Reduced consciousness (sometimes associated with seizures),
• Anxiety,
• Depression,
• Sleep disorders,
• More severe and rare neurological complications such as strokes, brain inflammation, delirium and nerve damage.
People of all ages who experience fever and/or cough associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or loss of speech or movement should seek medical care immediately. If possible, call your health care provider, hotline or health facility first, so you can be directed to the right clinic.

Some people who have had COVID-19, whether they have needed hospitalization or not, continue to experience symptoms, including fatigue, respiratory and neurological symptoms.
The WHO is working with our the Global Technical Network for Clinical Management of COVID-19, researchers and patient groups around the world to design and carry out studies of patients beyond the initial acute course of illness to understand the proportion of patients who have long term effects, how long they persist, and why they occur. These studies will be used to develop further guidance for patient care.

Stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, especially when distancing cannot be maintained, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds and close contact, regularly cleaning your hands, and coughing into youra bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Do it all!

In most situations, a molecular test is used to detect SARS-CoV-2 and confirm infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most commonly used molecular test. Samples are collected from the nose and/or throat with a swab. Molecular tests detect the virus in the sample by amplifying viral genetic material to detectable levels. For this reason, a molecular test is used to confirm an active infection, usually within a few days of exposure and around the time that symptoms may begin.

If you have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19:
• , call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline for instructions and find out when and where to get a test,
• stay at home for 14 days away from others, and
• monitor your health.
If you have shortness of breath or pain or pressure in the chest, seek medical attention at a health facility immediately. Call your health care provider or hotline in advance for direction to the right health facility.
If you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever, seek medical care if you have a fever.
If local guidance recommends visiting a medical centre for testing, assessment or isolation, wear a medical mask while travelling to and from the facility and during medical care. Also keep at least a 1-metre distance from other people and avoid touching surfaces with your hands. This applies to both adults and children.

• Vaccines protect children and adults from some infectious diseases and their serious complications, and may thus lead to a healthy society relatively free from these infectious diseases and epidemics.
• Vaccines achieve their purpose by protecting individuals and communities.
• Vaccines are the best and most successful medical interventions.
• Achieving the goals of the national preventive programs for disease eradication and elimination, as it can be prevented with vaccines, based on global strategies and best practices .
• Vaccines aid hHealth system development and the quality of community life.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA). The vaccine gives cells instructions for how to make a harmless piece of COVID-19 protein. After vaccination, the immune system will begin building an immune response and making antibodies.

The vaccine can be given to everyone starting from the age of 16 years. However, the priority will be given to UAE nationals and residents who did not take any COVID-19 vaccine previously.

The COVID-19 vaccine will reduce the chance of transmission and spread of COVID-19 infection to others. When many people are vaccinated, the COVID-19 virus is less likely to spread in the community. Sufficient immunity against the COVID-19 virus does not develop until about two weeks after receiving the second dose. Some people may be exposed to the COVID-19 virus before getting the maximum benefit from the vaccine. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination and good immunity, but symptoms are more likely to be less severe.

The vaccine is like any other medicine and, could cause some side-effects, however, the risk of severe reaction is rare. Some minor side effects may occur following a vaccination, including:
• Pain, swelling, redness, at the vaccination site.
• Fever, chills, headache, tiredness, nausea.
• Muscle pain, joint pain.
• Feeling unwell.
• Some people might develop other side effects such as signs of severe allergic reaction.
• Generally, the mild symptoms subside without treatment. If symptoms seem to get worse, seek advice from a healthcare provider to get the required treatment.