UAE: Chinese visitors can now receive Covid-19 vaccines in Dubai

Chinese nationals visiting the UAE on short-term visas can now receive a Covid-19 vaccine in Dubai.

On Sunday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Chinese Embassy in UAE jointly announced the official launch of a regional vaccination site in Dubai to facilitate those jabs.

Under the programme, dubbed ‘Spring Sprout Action’ and administered by the Dubai Health Authority, Chinese nationals over the age of 16 who hold a short-term visa without UAE residency will be provided in Dubai with two doses of the Sinopharm vaccination.

Chinese nationals temporarily visiting the UAE can visit the official websites of the Chinese Embassy in the UAE and the Consulate-General in Dubai for details, noted UAE state-run news agency WAM.

阿联酋外交与国际合作部与中国驻阿联酋大使馆联合宣布在迪拜正式启动地区性疫苗接种点。中国与阿联酋的合作贯穿于 #COVID19 大流行，在此期间分享了专业知识、资源和技术。中阿携手同行，树立国际合作典范。????? #UAE #China https://t.co/Msnz5OSiOH pic.twitter.com/eYA9iesujd

— Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri (@aalyabhouni) May 24, 2021

The launch of the regional vaccination centre follows a meeting in the UAE in March between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, where it was agreed to set up such a facility within the UAE.

Read: China, UAE to expedite production of affordable Covid-19 vaccines

Under the UAE government’s ongoing national vaccination campaign, all citizens and residents of the UAE above the age of 12 can avail of a free Covid-19 vaccine in Dubai.

On December 9, 2020, the UAE approved the use of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine within the country, and earlier this month the World Health Organisation too approved the vaccine for emergency use.

Earlier this month, officials in the UAE confirmed that production of the Hayat-Vax Covid-19 vaccine had begun in the country. Hayat-Vax [Hayat means life in Arabic], is the first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine in the region that will be manufactured by a joint venture between Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm CNBG, and Abu Dhabi-based technology company G42.

Read: UAE to begin manufacturing ‘Hayat-Vax’ Covid-19 vaccine

A new manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi’s KIZAD will over its phased development have a production capacity of 200 million doses per annum across three filling lines and five automated packaging line.

There are four Covid-19 vaccines currently approved for use within the UAE, including Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.

On Saturday, the UAE’s Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and the Tamouh Healthcare Company also launched a joint initiative to provide Covid-19 vaccines to several countries beyond the UAE .

Read: UAE launches new programme to provide Covid-19 vaccines for several countries

As of May 23, health authorities within the UAE have administered a total of 12,104,525, with a vaccine distribution rate of 122.39 doses per 100 people, making the country one of the world’s most vaccinated nations.