UAE health minister gets first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

The UAE’s minister of Health and Prevention, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, has received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine currently being tested in the country.

The move comes after the UAE announced last week that the vaccine, which is currently under Phase III trails in the country, will be available mainly to frontline workers dealing with Covid-19 patients.

Read: UAE permits emergency use of new Covid-19 vaccine for frontline staff in the country

Al Owais stressed that the measure is “fully and completely compatible with the regulations and laws that allow a faster review of licensing procedures,” official news agency WAM reported.

معالي عبدالرحمن العويس وزير الصحة ووقاية المجتمع يتلقى الجرعة الأولى من لقاح #كوفيد19 ضمن خطة الوزارة لتقديم اللقاح لفئات محددة من خط الدفاع الأول@mohapuae pic.twitter.com/jSGQ7q7BGl

— UAEGov (@uaegov) September 19, 2020

Studies on its safety have also been reviewed and demonstrated that it is safe to use, officials said.

The results of the studies during the third phase also showed that the vaccine is effective and generated antibodies to the virus.

The world’s first Phase III trial were conducted as a partnership between Abu Dhabi based G42 Healthcare, and Sinopharm CNBG, the world’s sixth largest vaccine manufacturer. In the UAE, 31,000 volunteers, representing 125 nationalities, participated in the clinical trials.

The UAE reported 809 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, after 103,124 tests were undertaken to screen people for the virus.

The total number of infections recorded recorded in the country has now reached 84,242.

Read: UAE reports 809 Covid-19 cases; gatherings at weddings and funerals limited to 10 people