Sikhs In Dubai Temple Are Providing COVID Vaccine Doses To People
Now, instead of communal prayer and vibrantly flavored basmati rice and dal, they¡¯re providing what has become a coveted prize: 5,000 shots of the Chinese-made vaccine offered to people of all ages and backgrounds.
While Sikh temple in Dubai is synonymous with people praying, or waiting for a hot meal during normal times, there is a different 'seva' being offered these days.
Over 50,000 adherents of Sikhism in the United Arab Emirates usually provide free, home-cooked vegetarian food to anyone in need. Now, instead of prayer and vibrantly flavored basmati rice and dal, they¡¯re providing what has become a coveted prize: 5,000 shots of the Chinese-made vaccine offered to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Also read: Dubai Restaurants Are Offering Discounts To Diners Who Have Been Vaccinated For COVID-19
AP
As the coronavirus pandemic surges in the desert country, residents are scrambling to get vaccines in the world¡¯s second-fastest inoculation drive.
¡°We found a lot of people who wanted to take this vaccine and they¡¯re having difficulty,¡± Surender Singh Kandhari, the temple¡¯s chairman, told news agency AP.
AP
Kandhari said many front-line medical workers who failed to get vaccinated elsewhere due to shortages and new restrictions, were lining up for shots on Monday, in the temple¡¯s parking garage.
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¡°This is the only way we can serve the community,¡± he added.
The UAE, with a vaccination campaign that trails only Israel, has administered 4.4 million shots in the country of some 10 million. The UAE didn¡¯t set eligibility criteria when it approved the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine for anyone 16 and over, in contrast with many Western countries.
AP
Last December, the UAE declared the Chinese-made vaccine to be 86% effective at preventing infection, an announcement that lacked data and other details. Dubai is also offering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but has much less of it and has only made it available to older adults and those with health issues.
Dubai, which swung open its doors to travelers fleeing tough lockdowns back home, is banking on widespread COVID-19 immunity to salvage its stagnating economy. The worsening outbreak has infected more than 329,000 people and killed 930.
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