As countries are beginning vaccination processes against the COVID-19 vaccine, the UAE has already reached a major global milestone.
With the aim of vaccinating half of the population by March, the nation now ranks first across the globe in the daily distribution of doses of coronavirus vaccines.
According to the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the rate for vaccinations over the last seven days in the UAE has been 1.16 per 100 people.
Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri: The UAE ranked first worldwide in terms of daily doses over the past seven days at a rate of 1.16 doses per 100 people, and fifth in terms of the availability of Covid-19 vaccines.#TogetherWeRecover
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) January 19, 2021
Reaching another milestone, the UAE has also now administered over two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The #UAE has exceeded 2 million doses of the Covid19 vaccine. #TogetherWeRecover pic.twitter.com/mLvJO3mvHW
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) January 19, 2021
Sinophram vaccine
There are currently two vaccines available in the UAE, the first to being the Sinopharm vaccine.
The vaccine underwent clinical trials in Abu Dhabi during summer last year and it was confirmed by health authorities saying that the “analysis [from the trial of 31,000 people] shows no serious safety concerns”.
High-up government officials including His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaab, the Minister of Culture and Youth and more have received the Sinopharm vaccine.
Pfizer vaccine
Then, at the end of December, the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved to be administered in Dubai.
After undergoing numerous clinical trials, the vaccine has been found to have 95 per cent efficacy. Recently, the DHA outlined exactly who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine.
The vaccine has already started to be rolled out, with some government ministers already receiving their first doses. As of today, this now includes Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) Her Excellency Mona Al Marri.
