Sultan Al Jaber: Covid-19 vaccine is part of UAE's path to recovery

UAE minister received full vaccination and encourages others to follow suit

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives the Sinopharm vaccine to protect against Covid-19 on November 3, 2020. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak receives the first of two shots of a vaccine that was trialled in the UAE. Wam

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Mansoor

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, gets the Sinopharm jab.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, receives the Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, October 31. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. Wam

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, takes the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, UAE Fatwa Council, is vaccinated with the Sinopharm innoculation on January 4, 2021. Wam

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed, chair of Abu Dhabi's Executive Office, takes the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office

The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, receives the Sinopharm vaccine.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives a thumbs up as he is vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association, receives the Covid-19 vaccine.

Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police    

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, director general of Dubai's State Security Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Amer Sharif, head of Dubai's Covid-10 Command and Control Centre, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, takes the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

The safety of our society depends on the health of its individuals, said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, as he joined the country's leadership in encouraging the public to get vaccinated.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology said the nationwide vaccination drive would protect Emiratis and residents.

The minister, who is also head of the Covid-19 Crisis Recovery Management and Governance Committee, said widespread immunisation would help to accelerate the UAE's recovery from the effects of Covid-19 on the economy.

"The UAE was one of the first countries that was keen to provide and introduce the vaccine," he said.

He said the prioritisation of frontline workers, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, before a wider introduction of the vaccine, "confirms the UAE's proactive approach to caring for the health and safety of every member of society".

Almost 1.3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered since the campaign began last month with tens of thousands of shots given each day.

Dr Al Jaber said he was among the 250,000 people in the UAE to have been completely vaccinated against Covid-19, having received two doses 28 days apart.

He said the speed in which the vaccine was brought in was an indication of the high levels of efficiency and co-ordination between local task forces.

"This campaign reflects the distinguished efforts and advanced capabilities of our national work system. Through its rapid response to the pandemic, it has proven its ability to immunise our society and ensure its safety ... to overcome this exceptional circumstance and move forward towards the stage of recovery."

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, each encouraged members of the public to get vaccinated.

“My message to everyone is to hasten to be vaccinated to protect our health, our economy and our achievements,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

The UAE has authorised the use of the Sinopharm vaccine, which, when trialled locally, was found to be 86 per cent effective. Wider tests conducted by the Chinese pharmaceutical company indicated that the vaccine was 79 per cent effective against Covid-19.

In Dubai, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also available for use by over-60s, frontline workers and people with underlying health conditions that place them at greater risk of serious illness.

Inoculations for the rest of the population are expected to begin in the coming months.

There are no charges for the vaccines and taking them is voluntary.