Highlights of the UAE government news briefing on country’s health status

Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, the spokesman of NCEMA:

• The UAE is leading globally in handling the pandemic, for its efforts in tackling the pandemic through precautionary and preventive measures and providing free vaccine to its community members besides its success in mitigating the pandemic’s consequences.

• It has recently been noted that official statements announced by authorities have been questioned, and we emphasize that there is an integrated system to record all data related to the pandemic in accordance with the highest international standards.

• We call on the public to obtain data from their official sources and to refrain from questioning the efforts of all those who have worked to contain this pandemic.

• We advise everyone to get vaccinated, adhere to the preventive measures, not to follow or circulate any rumors, and to obtain the correct information from reliable sources.

Dr. Habiba Al-Saffar, Director of the Biotechnology Center at Khalifa University:

• 3 vaccines were registered in the country, the first was Sinopharm vaccine, then Pfizer, and most recent is the Sputnik vaccine.

• The UAE had launched the national vaccination campaign after confirming its safety, and the clinical results of the third phase trial conducted by the “Sinopharm” company in which the UAE participated in showed that there were no concerns related to the safety of the vaccine for all recipients, and its effectiveness reached 86% against the virus.

• The national vaccination campaign reflects the leadership’s keenness in maintaining the health of its community members. As the number of vaccination centers in the different regions of the UAE exceeds 205 medical centers, providing free of charge doses for those who wish to take it.

• The vaccine is the safest way towards a full and sustainable recovery and the only way to restore normalcy and resume economic activity in all sectors. This requires the community to respond to the campaign and take the vaccine, which has been proven to be safe and effective.