Medical experts in the UAE have urged residents to get vaccinated and take a cautious approach as the Delta variant of Covid-19 — first identified in India — has now been detected in all the other GCC countries.  According to the World Health Organisation’s weekly epidemiological update, the Delta variant has been found in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Except for Oman, the WHO confirmed the findings in other GCC nations through its official sources. In Oman, the WHO said the information was received from unofficial sources and will be reviewed.  The WHO has termed the Delta variant as a ‘variant of concern’. However, doctors underlined that people need not be apprehensive and instead should continue to follow precautionary measures ... Read More..

The UAE Capital’s decision to give options of different Covid-19 booster shots to fully vaccinated community members will enhance their immunity levels and offer further protection against the infection, medical experts said.  A fully vaccinated individual – a person who has received both doses of the Sinopharm vaccine – can now receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as a third shot. This development comes just days after the launch of a booster dose of the Sinopharm vaccine via a walk-in facility.  Dr Osama Ahmed El Gharib, medical director, Burjeel Specialty Hospital, Sharjah, termed the availability of different booster dose options as a proactive strategy to further contain the pandemic.  “This is a highly proactive step as international studies s ... Read More..

his era of Zoom meetings and video conferences has seen many residents dialling up their dermatologists because, all of a sudden, wrinkles are too visible or hairlines appear much higher. It’s a scenario dubbed ‘Zoom dysmorphia’ and doctors said it has become more common in the UAE. With insecurities magnified, there has been an uptick in cosmectic consultations, the specialists said.  Dr Preethi Dayashankar, dermatologist at Medeor Hospital, Dubai, said: “This is on the rise in the UAE residents, as seen by our fraternity, who share a common opinion on people reaching out to us for corrective treatments. This scenario has become more prominent after the restrictions have been lifted and physicians became more accessible.”  Zoom dysmorphia occurs ... Read More..

Pharmacy groups in the UAE have registered up to 200 per cent rise in sales of multivitamins and zinc supplements since March 2020, as residents take proactive steps to boost their immunity.  Roshan Abdul Hameed, retail head of Burjeel Pharmacy, VPS Healthcare’s Retail Pharmacy Network, said: “At the beginning of the pandemic itself, more people began buying vitamin C and zinc as part of their efforts to boost immunity. When Covid-19 numbers peaked, the demand rose tremendously across our more than 35 pharmacies. At least there was a two-fold increase in the sale during these months. At present, the increase in sales of these products in our pharmacies is 40 to 50 per cent compared to pre-pandemic times.”  In a bid to handle this excess demand, pharma companie ... Read More..

With the UAE apparently bending the Covid curve, doctors have warned against complacency and urged residents to continue following a Covid appropriate lifestyle at least for some more time.  This comes on the heels of a statement by Dr David Nabarro, special envoy as the World Health Organisation (WHO), who said that “people will have to learn to live with the disease. Eradication is not currently a reasonable target for the world. Each time there is a sudden surge, it does stimulate in one’s mind the thought that there might be a new variant appearing. That wouldn’t be surprising.”  Speaking about herd immunity through vaccination, Dr Ponnusamy Tamilvendan, Specialist Internal Medicine, Medeor Hospital, Dubai, said: “Herd immunity is a moving targ ... Read More..