United Arab Emirates starts its vaccination campaign against COVID-19
The Arab Emirates becomes the first Arab country to start vaccinating citizens against COVID-19. The country started today the free Pzifer/BioNTech vaccination campaign in Dubai. In the capital, Abu Dhabi, the injection of Sinopharm has started.
The official news agency of the United Arab Emirates, WAM, has reported that the first shipment of Pfizer drugs from Brussels has landed in Dubai. A major vaccination campaign will begin on Wednesday and will be free of charge for residents of all nationalities.
In addition to the field hospitals, theme parks have also been provided in Dubai where the vaccinations will take place. These already have long queues to receive the Pfizer dose and claim to prefer it to Sinopharm. Priority will be given to people over 60, patients with chronic diseases and workers on the front line of the fight against the coronavirus. "We will register to take Pfizer's, because it will be better than China's," a Filipino expatriate in Dubai who asked not to reveal her name told Efe.
The vast majority of UAE residents are foreigners, including those from the Filipino and Indian communities. All are entitled to immunisation without exception, as are Emiratis, provided they have residency in the country.
Following the Emirates' clinical trials by the Chinese pharmacist, the population began to be injected with doses of Sinopharm in Abu Dhabi on 9 December. The trial involved volunteers of more than 125 nationalities, including senior members of the Emirate government. Emirati health authorities say it is 86% effective, which is below Pfizer's 95%.
In addition to effectiveness, there has been great concern in the Muslim community about whether the Chinese vaccine is halal, i.e. permitted by Islam. The Emirati Fatwas Council has responded to these concerns by stating that the COVID-19 vaccine is allowed to be used despite the fact that it contains pig gelatine, which Muslims are not allowed to consume.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the UAE has recorded 195,878 cases of coronavirus and 642 deaths.
