COVID-19 vaccination in the United Arab Emirates

Last updated
COVID-19 vaccination in the United Arab Emirates
DateDecember 2020 – present
Location United Arab Emirates
Cause COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
TargetImmunization against COVID-19
Organised by Ministry of Health
Participants16,444,844 total doses administered [1]
  • First dose: 7,684,876
  • Second dose: 6,765,065
Outcome
  • 77.70% of the Emirati population has received at least one dose of a vaccine
  • 68.40% has received both doses of a vaccine
Website United Arab Emirates COVID-19 Data

The COVID-19 vaccination in the United Arab Emirates is an ongoing mass immunization campaign, in response to the ongoing pandemic.

Contents

In December 2020, the vaccination campaign began after its authorization of emergency use of Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine. [2] [3]

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has approved six COVID-19 vaccines; the following are: Sinopharm BIBP, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V, Oxford–AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Sinopharm CNBG. [4]

Background

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first reported case of SARS-CoV-2 was identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China. In January 2020, first cases of COVID-19 was reported in the United Arab Emirates. [5]

In October 2020, Dubai relaxed its entry requirements for tourists. [6] Despite the initial influx of tourists, Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates (UAE) were forced to reintroduce restrictions in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases. [7]

To combat the pandemic, the UAE launched an ambitious vaccination program with the goal of vaccinating half of its population by April 2021. [8]

The UAE's efforts saw it become one of the top countries in terms of vaccinations per capita, using the BBIBP-CorV vaccine, developed by China’s Sinopharm. [9]

The decision to use the Sinopharm vaccine reflects broader historical and diplomatic ties between China and the Middle East. China has long engaged in medical diplomacy with Gulf countries, providing medical teams and supplies during the early stages of the pandemic. [10]

Approvals

The United Arab Emirates has issued an approval of emergency use on the following dates:

Progress

References

  1. "Vaccine Statistics: As of July 20, 2021". covidvax.live. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  2. "Dubai is offering the Pfizer vaccine to residents for free in addition to China's Sinopharm shot". CNBC. December 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  3. "United Arab Emirates starts its vaccination campaign against COVID-19". Atalayar. December 23, 2021. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. "United Arab Emirates – COVID19 Vaccine Tracker". Archived from the original on 2020-11-19. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  5. Nandkeolyar, Karishma H. (January 29, 2021). "Coronavirus in UAE: Four of a family infected". Gulf News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. Zulfikar, Fahad (2021-07-15). "UAE takes back condition of Covid-19 vaccine attestation for Pakistani travellers". Brecorder. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  7. "Why the UAE adopted China's Covid-19 vaccine". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  8. Suliman, Duaa Mohamed; Nawaz, Faisal A.; Mohanan, Parvathy; Modber, Mohamed Abdul Kareem Adam; Musa, Muhammad Kabir; Musa, Mohamed Babiker; El Chbib, Diala; Elhadi, Yasir Ahmed Mohammed; Essar, Mohammad Yasir; Isa, Mashkur Abdulhamid; Lucero-Prisno, Don Eliseo; Moonesar, Immanuel Azaad (October 2021). "UAE efforts in promoting COVID-19 vaccination and building vaccine confidence". Vaccine. 39 (43): 6341–6345. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.09.015. ISSN   0264-410X. Archived from the original on 2025-02-02.
  9. "Coronavirus vaccine: China jab 86% effective, UAE says". 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  10. Kerr, Simeon (2021-03-28). "UAE to produce China's Sinopharm Covid vaccine". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
  11. "Chinese Covid-19 Vaccine Gets Key Push, but Doubts Swirl". The New York Times. December 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 "Vaccines against COVID-19 in the UAE". January 21, 2021. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  13. "UAE approves Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use". Reuters. July 4, 2021. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  14. "Emergency use of Sinopharm's new CNBG protein vaccine approved in UAE". Gulf News . 27 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.