Parents can now take children to a number of walk-in vaccination clinics in Abu Dhabi after Sinopharm <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/coronavirus/2021/08/02/breaking-uae-approves-sinopharm-for-3-to-17-year-olds/" target="_blank">was approved for use in youngsters aged 3 to 17</a>. After a series of clinical trials involving 900 young volunteers in the emirate, the vaccine was approved for emergency use by the Ministry of Health. It is voluntary. Children can be vaccinated at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre; Al Mushrif Majlis; Al Bateen Majlis; Al Manhal Majlis; as well as Al Mushrif Children’s Specialty Centre - Seha and Al Mushrif Majlis. The vaccine is also available in Al Ain. Children can visit Al Towayya Children’s Specialty Centre - Seha, Falaj Hazza Majlis and the Al Kubaisi Hall of Al Ain Exhibition Centre. Families living in the Al Dhafra region will also have access to the Sinopharm vaccine at Al Dhafra Family Medicine Centre; Al Dhafra Co-operative Society; Ghayati Hospital; Liwa Hospital; Marfa Hospital; Sila Hospital; and Delma Hospital. Pupils in Abu Dhabi aged 16 and over, along with teachers and staff, must be vaccinated before entering school when the new term starts on August 29. On Monday, the Ministry of Education said that requirement would be extended across the country. Dubai's private schools, which are overseen by a separate education regulator, are not affected by the decision and do not yet require over 16s to be vaccinated - although many were last term.