Residents describe relief at receiving first dose
Dubai residents and doctors spoke of their relief after getting the first shot of the Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine on Wednesday.
Carolyn Belsey Morton and her husband Graham, both 74, received the vaccine at the Uptown Mirdif Medical Fitness Centre.
The couple said it was “the best Christmas present they could have hoped for”.
“I can’t begin to tell you what a relief it was to finally get the vaccine,” said Ms Morton, who runs a music shop in Dubai.
“We are both quite healthy but we are also at an age at which we are more vulnerable than others.
“I still can’t believe we were able to get the vaccine. We weren’t expecting it to become available until next year at the earliest.”
Ms Morton and her husband signed a consent form before vaccination. The two said they felt no side effects.
“It was just like every other injection I have ever had,” she said.
“I felt a little prick. I had no qualms at all.
“I can’t praise the staff at the clinic highly enough. They were so helpful.”
Dr Nikita Malhotra and her husband Dr Sandeep Malhotra said they felt safer after receiving their first shots of the vaccine.
Dr Nikita, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Medcare Hospital in Al Safa, said she was excited to be the first doctor at her hospital to get the vaccine on Wednesday.
“I feel comforted and secure because I am an ENT surgeon and am constantly seeing patients with upper respiratory infections,” she said.
She said taking the shot made her feel protected.
“I have had patients coming in to see me with fever, cough and flu symptoms, and many turned out to be Covid-19 positive.
“I took all the precautions but at the back of my mind thought about when the vaccine would be available.”
Both couples will need to take the second dose of the vaccine in three weeks.
Dr Nikita said she felt no side effects other than a bit of soreness where she got the shot.
She encouraged residents who were eligible to take the vaccine and help control the spread of the virus.
Dr Nikita said she booked the appointment through the Dubai Health Authority hotline and received a text message explaining the process.
Dr Sandeep, a paediatric dentist at JTS Medical Centre, received the first shot at the Zabeel Primary Healthcare Centre on Thursday.
“The whole world has been waiting for this vaccine,” he said.
Dr Sandeep said he was sceptical and careful when taking on cases during the pandemic, as dentists and nurses are at risk of contracting the virus during procedures.
“Now, because of the vaccine, I feel much more comfortable,” Dr Sandeep said.
“I would encourage others to take the vaccine.
“This is the only way we can control the virus.”