His Excellency Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, received the country’s first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday.
The jab was developed by Chinese drug maker Sinopharm in a testing operation between the UAE and China, and will initially be given to frontline health workers who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus.
"The country seeks to protect people from any dangers that they may face due to the nature of their work," said His Excellency Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais.
"Positive results of clinical trials are encouraging. The vaccine is safe and effective. It is compatible with the laws and regulations that allow a faster review of licensing procedures.”
Earlier last week, 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, had 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.