UAE authorises emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine on vulnerable health workers

Our Correspondent

Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, announced that the UAE has authorised the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to make it available to those first-line defence heroes who are at risk of catching the disease. This will protect them from any danger that they may be exposed to owing to the nature of their work.

Al Owais stressed that this emergency use of the vaccine was fully and completely compatible with the regulations and laws that allow a faster review of licensing procedures.

The announcement came at the UAE Government’s media briefing which addresses all developments related to the coronavirus. He confirmed that the UAE leadership has made all efforts to support the health sector by providing all resources needed and also encourage scientific progress to find effective and definitive solutions. This has made the UAE a world leader in research aimed at developing a safe and effective vaccine against the disease.

Al Owais confirmed that the results from the pre-clinical study, first and second phase trials, showed that the vaccine was safe and effective. The third phase with a large number of volunteers was progressing very well. Studies related to the safety of vaccination were reviewed, and the process was carried out under the strict supervision of medical teams, he said.