DUBAI // Children will be vaccinated against chicken pox starting tomorrow as part of the national immunisation programme, the Ministry of Health has announced.
This brings the number of vaccinations required to eight, including those for measles and polio.
The vaccine must be administered in two shots: at 12 months, then a booster at five years. It has been available since 2004 but only if prescribed or recommended by a paediatrician.
International figures show about 95 per cent of unvaccinated children under 10 have had chicken pox, which is transmitted through respiratory secretions or direct skin contact.
Dr Mahmoud Fikri, the assistant undersecretary for health policies at the ministry, said figures in the US showed "routine chicken pox vaccination is likely to save five times the investment".
Statistics from the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention show eight or nine of every 10 people vaccinated are completely protected from chicken pox.
So far this year about 32,000 children in the UAE have been vaccinated. In 2010 there were 258 cases of chicken pox for every 100,000 people.
"Although chicken pox is not dangerous, it can lead to complications such as bacterial infections of the skin, lung, brain or joints," said Dr Ibrahim Al Qadi, the ministry's director of preventive medicine.
Vaccines for rotavirus, the human papillomavirus and meningococcal diseases are being considered, Dr Fikri said.
mismail@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
