The first UAE-made Covid-19 vaccines are seen rolling off a production line in new images.
Hundreds of vials are seen being processed at Emirati drug maker Julphar's vaccine plant in Ras Al Khaimah.
Earlier on Monday, the companies behind the operation said they had already began making the Sinopharm vaccine under the brand name Hayat-Vax. Hayat means 'life' in Arabic.
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On Sunday night, the UAE and China agreed a deal to permit Abu Dhabi's Group 42 and Julphar to manufacture the vaccine, which Sinopharm says has a 79 per cent efficacy rate.
On Monday, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, spoke at a virtual conference hosted by the Hope Consortium, an Abu Dhabi-based logistics collective set up to deliver vaccines globally.
Sheikh Abdullah said the country would play its role in the Covax drive to provide affordable doses to the developing world.
"We believe that every person has the right to obtain the vaccine without discrimination," he said.
Bottles move along a production line at Julphar's manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah in this file image. The company is already producing the Sinopharm vaccine and will be part of a plan to build a dedicated plant in Abu Dhabi's Kizad zone. Pawan Singh / The National
Inside view of the manufacturing area at Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries in Ras Al Khaimah, in a file image. Pawan Singh / The National
Staff from Abu Dhabi's G42 undergo testing at the company's Biogenix lab in Masdar City. The firm outlined a plan to create 200 million doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine under the name Hayat-Vax, at a new and dedicated plant in Abu Dhabi's Kizad. Victor Besa / The National
Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, principle investigator of Phase 3 clinical trials of Sinopharm and Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare, speak to The National in January. The successful trials paved the way for the vaccine to be approved, and now produced, in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
Ashish Koshy said the UAE wants to ensure that vaccines are made from start to finish in the emirates. Vidhyaa Chandramohan for The National
An Abu Dhabi resident waves as he is processed for a PCR test at G42 Healthcare's Biogenix lab in Masdar City. The company, together with Ras Al Khaimah drug maker Julphar, have begun manufacturing China's Sinopharm vaccine in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
A healthcare worker holds up saliva sample vials at the Biogenix lab at G42 in Masdar City. Victor Besa / The National
G42 has branched out into testing, vaccine production and vaccine trials, among other fields. Victor Besa / The National
Updated: March 30, 2021, 8:57 AM