As part of the ‘Choose to Vaccinate’ campaign, the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi (DCD) has organized a series of visits to non-Muslim places of worship in the emirate to help people get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The move is in support to the proactive efforts of the UAE to promote vaccination against the virus, in line with the country’s ongoing precautionary measures to combat its spread and preserve the health and safety of all community members, citizens and residents alike.
The Department explained that the visits are conducted in partnership with relevant health authorities and in coordination with clerics and authorized places of worship for non-Muslims in Abu Dhabi to provide free vaccination to people. It further highlights the cooperation among all concerned parties to take advanced steps towards addressing the crisis in a flexible and efficient manner to help bring life back to normalcy.
The DCD revealed the positive response and collaboration of the places of worships to participate in these visits and highlight that vaccines are effective tools which can protect societies and eradicate infectious diseases and epidemics. The Department urged the communities from various faith traditions to take the vaccine, noting that it is the shortest and safest way to protect community members.
The Department has visited the St. Joseph's Catholic Church early last week as more than 10,000 individuals received the vaccination at the Church, reflecting the key role of religious institutions in supporting the national campaign towards the full recovery of the epidemic.
Among the first Hindu religion leader to receive the vaccine was Swamiji of the Hindu temple, considered to be the international representative of the temple. He praised the UAE’s leading efforts to confront the pandemic by creating an integrated system and a clear roadmap for full recovery. The Swami also encouraged Hindus in Abu Dhabi to get vaccinated through the health centers located.
Father. Bishoy Fakhri, the religion leader of the, the religious leader of the Coptic Church in Abu Dhabi, expressed the Church’s appreciation to DCD’s initiative in spreading and achieving social peace and safety by providing the vaccine free of charge for everyone to ensure the health and safety of people living in the country and quickly return to normal life. He added that the country’s leadership, officials and first lines of defense showed a good example for taking the vaccine first, sending a message of safety and harmlessness of the vaccine to everyone.
The DCD concluded that the visit campaign will continue to the second phase for the Coptic Church and the Evangelical Church in Al Mushrif in the presence of church leaders who expressed their keenness to receive the first dose of the vaccine to encourage their parishioners and members of the community to get vaccinated, demonstrating the spirit of unity, cohesion and full confidence in the UAE’s efforts.