There is no gainsaying that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a global forerunner in its efforts towards combating the Covid-19 pandemic. From offering free jabs across the country since late last year to now manufacturing its own vaccine, the Emirates has been leading the game from the very start. Yesterday, the UAE announced it had kicked off the production of the Covid-19 vaccine, Hayat-Vax, in the country. The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, renamed in Arabic in the UAE, is the product of a joint venture between Sinopharm CNBG, one of the leading pharmaceuticals in the world and G42, a pioneering technology company in Abu Dhabi.
The new vaccine plant will become operational this year and, over its phased development, will have a production capacity of 200 million doses per annum across three filling lines and five automated packaging lines, reported Khaleej Times. As UAE leads the world in healthcare in stressful pandemic times, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan echoed the same. He said, “The advancement in Life Sciences and Vaccine Manufacturing in our country is UAE’s contribution towards global efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the whole world. He emphasised that the UAE, “with the guidance of its wise leadership believes in the importance of strengthening collective international action.”
On another occasion, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan noted, “The whole world has become bonded in a tight way and our plight has become one now – in a way that international health security depends now on the well-being of all societies.” This proves that the UAE intends to not only protect its people from the deadly virus but everyone around the globe.
It was also among the first countries to vaccinate more than half of its population by mid-March 2021. “The campaign that was launched at the start of the year around the country, upon the directives of the country’s leadership, has vaccinated nearly 70.21% of elderly people and those with chronic diseases, who are being prioritized,” health minister Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al-Owais said, in a report from state news agency WAM. Health authorities across the country have also wasted no time in administering vaccinations. After a six-week-long vaccination campaign reserved for those who were at a higher risk of contracting the Covid-19 infection, The Ministry of Health and Prevention immediately urged all Emiratis and residents eligible for the dose to start booking appointments for inoculation starting March 21. Moreover, the vaccinations being provided are for free and available at any of the 205 vaccination locations available nationwide.