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

Dr. Farida Al Hosani, the spokeswoman of the health sector in the UAE:

The UAE achieved a new global health breakthrough in providing over 5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at a rate of 52.56 doses for every 100 people. At the same time, the number of tests exceeded 28 million.

We have succeeded in vaccinating 48.46% of the elderly group to reach the acquired immunity resulting from the vaccination, which will help reduce the number of infections and complications and control the virus.

•Additionally, the COVID-19 vaccine was provided to 40.48% of the total UAE population, in line with the plan set to vaccinate 50% of the total population during the first quarter of this year.

• The “Sinopharm” vaccine contains particles of the dead virus to expose the body’s immune system to the virus without risking a violent reaction. It then stimulates the human immune system to form antibodies and fight the virus.

• The “Pfizer-BioNtech” vaccine works with RNA technology. This means that part of the genetic code of the COVID-19 is injected into the body, which stimulates it to start producing proteins similar to that on the virus’s shell.

• The “AstraZenica” vaccine and the (Sputnik-V) vaccine depend on a viral vector based on another virus, which is the modified adenovirus, in addition to particles of the emerging coronavirus. The virus is weak, yet, it can stimulate the body to produce antibodies.

• Clinical trials of “Sinopharma” showed that it could reduce infection chances and prevent complications. Still, no one can yet determine the duration of protection, as is the case with all vaccines developed to counter COVID-19.

• We advise all individuals to be committed to taking the second dose of the vaccine to ensure the highest protection rate and continue following the preventive measures even after full vaccination.

• For those who got infected by the disease after taking the first dose, whether asymptomatic or with minor symptoms, we advise them to complete the second dose after their full recovery.

• If the symptoms were moderate or severe and required hospitalization, we advise them to visit a doctor and do the antibody tests to determine the need to take the second dose.

• There is no doubt that vaccinations are the best way to defeat this pandemic; the higher the community’s vaccination rate, the higher the level of immunity, and thus we will be closer to achieving recovery.