UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention approved an emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines for frontline workers who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus.
The announcement was made during a virtual press briefing held on Monday.
Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said: "The results of studies during the final stages of the third phase showed that the vaccine is effective and resulted in a strong response and the generation of antibodies to the virus.”
Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, Chairperson of the National Clinical Committee for Coronavirus and the principal investigator of the third phase of clinical trials of the inactive vaccine to combat COVID-19, said the clinical trials are going in the right direction and all tests have been successful so far.
"In less than six weeks since the study began, 31,000 volunteers representing 125 nationalities have participated in the clinical trials. The side effects which have been reported so far are mild and expected, like any other vaccine, and no severe side effects have been encountered,” Dr Al Kaabi said.
The emergency approval of the vaccine will help protect frontline health workers from any dangers and improve their safety at work.