Latest: UAE to consider 'movement restrictions' in new vaccine push
Abu Dhabi has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in the emirate.
The treatment is available at select clinics in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and Al Dhafrah, by appointment only.
It is the second Covid-19 vaccine to be made available in Abu Dhabi, which began a mass vaccine campaign in mid-December using a shot produced by Chinese company Sinopharm.
Pfizer received emergency approval in the UAE in December after trials showed it was 95 per cent effective. Dubai started distributing it that month.
The vaccine works by introducing a molecule to cells, known as messenger RNA (mRNA).
The molecule teaches cells to make a protein from the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.
The body detects this protein and triggers an immune response, which creates antibodies.
Over the past few months, it has been shown to be highly effective in the real world.
In Israel, where about 56 per cent of the population is vaccinated with Pfizer, infections have plummeted, with only 152 new cases on Monday from a high of 10,000 in February.
Data from the country showed that two doses of the vaccine was at least 97 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic disease, severe or critical disease and death.
Research into Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
In the US, a single dose was 80 per cent effective at preventing infections, which jumped to 90 per cent two weeks after the second shot, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The vaccine is "highly protective" six months after the second shot, according to analysis of a continuing trial involving 44,000 volunteers, Pfizer-BioNtech said.
The company said people will probably need a booster dose six to 12 months after being fully vaccinated. Thereafter it is possible people will need to be vaccinated every year.
"A likely scenario is that there will be a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination," Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said.
"But all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role."
The efficacy of Sinopharm
This week, authorities revealed that the Sinopharm vaccine, the only one used in Abu Dhabi until now, was more than 90 per cent effective at keeping infected people out of hospital.
A study by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, found that by far most of those who were infected after completing the course suffered only mild symptoms and did not require treatment.
The Pfizer vaccine is now available at:
Abu Dhabi
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Healthpoint Hospital
Capital Health Screening centres: Al Jazeera Sports Club, Mubadala Tower in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain city branch
SEHA: Al Zafranah Diagnostic and Screening Centre, Madinat Mohamed bin Zayed Healthcare Centre and Al Bahia Healthcare Centre
Al Ain
SEHA: Oud Al Touba Diagnostic and Screening Centre and Neima Healthcare Centre
Al Dhafra
Al Dhafra Family Medicine Centre
To book an appointment at SEHA clinics, call 800 50.
To book at Cleveland Clinic, Healthpoint or Capital Screening Centres, email mcv@telemed.ae or call 800 4959.
Sinopharm is available at more than 100 clinics in Abu Dhabi by appointment or walk-in.
Watch: 30 million masks produced annually in Al Ain plant.
