Face masks worn in public will be around for the foreseeable future as a tool to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, say UAE doctors. Facial coverings have been mandatory in the UAE since the height of the pandemic. A 3,000 Dirham fine remains for anyone not adhering to safety regulations.  Rules have since been relaxed allowing no facemask requirements whilst a person is exercising. People with certain medical conditions are also exempt. The new normal Face masks are the new norm, and medical professionals speaking to Al Arabiya English say the trend is here to stay during 2021. Dr Saheer Sainalabdeen, Specialist Respiratory Medicine Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, noted that the majority of available vaccines have an efficacy of around 95 percent, but their “effective ... Read More..

Dr Gunjan Mahajan, a clinical pathologist at Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery, Dubai, said, “The findings from the in-vitro study conducted by Pfizer and the University of Texas are preliminary but reassuring as it indicates that the new strain of SARS-CoV 2 virus is not resistant to Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The neutralisation activity found against isogenic viral strain developed on the genetic background of spike N501 Y mutated viral strain by Pfizer-BioNTech elicited human sera was in coherence with 15 different mutations tested earlier.”   Dr Mahajan added: “The study revealed that due to the mRNA nature of the vaccine, an update can be made if further mutations occur in the virus. However, we would need more data to validate these findings. The ... Read More..

Dr Osama Ahmed El Gharib, medical director, Burjeel Specialty Hospital Sharjah, said that one million doses in such a short time is a remarkable feat and a testament to the efficiency of the UAE’s healthcare system.   “The UAE government and health authorities have put in a commendable effort in ensuring an effective vaccination programme. The relentless and persevering approach of the leadership deserves all appreciation. Scientific planning and execution have been the pillar in the nation’s fight against the pandemic. The government’s decision to facilitate the Covid-19 vaccine through public and private healthcare facilities has made the jab accessible and available in masse. We are witnessing massive participation in the vaccination programme. This unde ... Read More..

Dubai: For Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) bus driver Rafqat Abbasi and his wife Sabina Biwi the start to the New Year couldn’t probably have been any better as their first-born son Abdul Hadi, who is seven months old now, has been cured of Spina Bifida completely. Little Abdul Hadi can now look forward to an absolutely normal life.  Surgeons at Medeor Hospital not only carried out the complex surgery, excising the lesion, but also made sure they were able to release the spinal cord that was tethered abnormally and could have caused involuntary urine and bowel movements. Further explaining the case, Dr Sharath Maila, neurosurgeon from Medeor Hospital, said: “The baby suffered from Myelomeningocele, a rarest form of Spina Bifida.” In this case, D ... Read More..

Dr Saheer Sainalabdeen, specialist respiratory medicine, Medeor Hospital, Dubai, pointed out: “During the trials of the currently available vaccines, tracking has been done pertaining to how many vaccinated people contract Covid-19 despite inoculation. How far they can prevent the spread of the virus is not yet clear.”   Therefore, to prevent the spread of infection remains to be the toughest part. Vaccination teaches the body how to successfully fight a virus without actually getting sick.   Medics averred that to effectively contain this pandemic, reducing exposure to the virus and supporting vaccination campaigns must continue. “The majority of available vaccines have an efficacy of around 95 per cent to prevent symptomatic disease, but its effectivene ... Read More..