Pictured: first Dubai residents receive Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Inoculations launch across the emirate to boost the fight against Covid-19

Adel Hassan Shukralla, 32, from Dubai Police, was among the first Dubai residents to receive the vaccine

Asha Susan Philip, a 45-year-old nurse with Dubai Health Authority, receives the Pfizer vaccine.

Asif Khan Fazle Subhan, a 37-year-old driver for Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, is vaccinated against Covid-19

Shamaa Saif Rashid Alalili, 36, a Dubai Ambulance worker, receives the Covid-19 jab

Ali Salem Ali Aladidi, 84, was one of the first in the emirate to take the Pfizer shot

A pair of Dubai frontline health workers were among the first group of residents to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after it arrived in the emirate on Wednesday.

Asha Susan Philip, 45, a nurse with Dubai Health Authority, and Shamaa Alalili, 36, a Dubai Ambulance worker, received the inoculation at the launch of an extensive campaign to protect the public against Covid-19.

Ali Aladidi, 84, Asif Subhan, 37, a driver for Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, and Adel Shukralla, 32, from Dubai Police, also received their first dose.

Dubai Health Authority joined forces with the emirate's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management and the Covid-19 Command and Control Centre to oversee the public health initiative.

The first vaccines will be administered to Emiratis and residents aged 60 and over, people with chronic diseases or disabilities, and frontline workers in sectors such as health care.

It is the second vaccine made available in the UAE after the Sinopharm jab was approved for nationwide use last month.

The mRNA vaccine was developed by US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech.

Instead of using a deactivated form of the virus, as the Sinopharm vaccine does, the Pfizer-BioNTech version contains a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognise the spiked protein on the surface of the virus.

The vaccine developers were the first to announce positive early results from a Phase 3 study that involved more than 43,000 volunteers. The results showed a 95 per cent success rate in preventing Covid-19 after two doses – administered 21 days apart – and no serious safety concerns.

Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee and Dr Walid Zaher, vaccine project leader at G42 Healthcare, pictured in Abu Dhabi. Their teams will lead a plan to produce the Sinopharm vaccine in the UAE this year. Victor Besa / The National

Dr Al Kaabi, pictured with Ashish Koshy, chief executive of Sinopharm vaccine trial partner G42 Healthcare, said the country aims to inoculate 70 per cent of the population to achieve herd immunity. Victor Besa / The National

Al Ain resident Aysha Mohammed Ahmad Ali holds a thumbs up after receiving her first shot of the Sinopharm vaccine at Burjeel hospital in Abu Dhabi in December. Victor Besa / The National

A medic at Burjeel Hospital in downtown Abu Dhabi holds a dose of the vaccine developed by Chinese drug maker Sinopharm. Victor Besa / The National

A nurse carries out a consultation with Abu Dhabi resident Saqib Ali before he receives the free shot. Victor Besa / The National

Al Ain resident Aysha Mohammed Ahmad Ali travelled to Abu Dhabi City from Al Ain to get vaccinated. Victor Besa / The National

A medic at Burjeel Hospital in downtown Abu Dhabi holds a dose of the vaccine developed by Chinese drug maker Sinopharm. Victor Besa / The National

Medical staff at Burjeel Hospital pictured on the first day of vaccine shots. Victor Besa / The National

Dr Haifaa Fadl Nourin is pictured at the hospital's Covid-19 vaccination clinic, which was set up in Burjeel's cancer wing. Victor Besa / The National

Bunyanuch Janta, from Thailand, waits for her turn to get vaccinated on Sunday. Victor Besa / The National

Emiratis Jaber Humaid, left and Omran Al Khoori pictured after receiving the first of two shots. Victor Besa / The National

Dr Ayman Mohamed Abdelhady gets vaccinated at Burjeel Hospital on Sunday. Victor Besa / The National

The inoculations are initially available at six DHA clinics: Zabeel Primary Health Care Centre, Al Mizhar Primary Health Care Centre, Nadd Al Hamar Health Care Centre, Al Barsha Health Centre, Uptown Mirdif Medical Fitness Centre and Hatta Hospital.

The vaccine is free and people who meet the criteria can book an appointment by calling the Dubai Health Authority hotline, 800 342.

Residents will be asked several questions before inoculation, including their age and medical history.

Women will be asked whether they are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding.

Should residents meet the eligibility criteria to receive the vaccine in its first phase, they will be able to book an appointment.