Coronavirus: UAE's highest priority is Covid-19 vaccine

Country aims to vaccinate enough of the population to achieve herd immunity and prevent virus spread

The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam

The UAE's top priority is to develop and disseminate a safe vaccine to protect the population against Covid-19.

On Monday, Dr Omar Al Hammadi, official spokesman for the country's regular Covid-19 media briefing, said a campaign to vaccinate frontline workers, people with chronic illnesses and the elderly was still under way. That group was prioritised "because they are more vulnerable to infection than others".

He said the vaccine would not be given to children or pregnant women until its safety could be assured. Once it is, the scope of the vaccination programme will be expanded to include other groups.

"Wearing a mask and maintaining physical distancing is paramount to protect ourselves from the virus but the vaccine will be our weapon to fight it head on," he said.

Precautionary measures will continue in conjunction with a vaccination drive to ensure its success.

The benefits of mass vaccination are far reaching and the more people immunised against Covid-19, the fewer people it will spread to.

Dr Al Hammadi said the aim was to gradually decrease the spread of the virus over the coming months and years until it is stamped out completely.

A significant proportion of the population will need to be immunised against the virus to achieve herd immunity.

"This means that whenever the disease appears, it will find an immune system ready to face it and so it will recede."

As the country approaches its 49th National Day, Dr Al Hammadi reminded the public to celebrate at home alone.

He said the occasion was being held under exceptional circumstances and that each individual was responsible for protecting themselves and others.

"We call upon all citizens and residents to adhere to all precautionary measures as we do not want our National Day to be marred by violations and laxity in prevention, the results of which lead to dire consequences."

On Monday, the UAE reported 1,107 new cases of Covid-19, raising the country's total infections to 168,860.

Another 714 patients were given the all-clear, taking the recovery tally to 154,899.

Authorities said two patients died, taking the death toll to 572.

There are 13,389 active cases of Covid-19 across the country – a rise of about 12,000 since November 4, when fewer than 2,000 people had the virus.

The new cases were detected after another 87,514 tests were carried out.

The UAE has conducted more than 16.7 million tests since the outbreak began as part of a mass-screening strategy to limit the spread of the virus.