UAE Authorizes Emergency Use Of COVID-19 Vaccine For Health Workers
Over 8 million COVID-19 tests conducted in the UAE
The UAE announced authorizing an emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine for health workers on the frontlines of the battle against the novel pandemic.
During the UAE’s COVID-19 media briefing, Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, the UAE’s Minister of Health and Prevention, said making the vaccine available for frontliners was part of the country’s measures to protect health workers in close contact with COVID-19 patients and ensure their safety.
The UAE is currently conductingPhase III clinical trial of Covid-19 inactivated vaccine. Results from the final stages of the third phase confirmed that the vaccine is safe and effective, resulting in a strong generation ofCOVID-19 antibodies.
Al Owais stressed that the emergency use of the vaccine is fully aligned with the regulations and laws that allow a faster review of licensing procedures.
“The studies related to the safety of vaccination are conducted under the strict supervision of medical teams. Health authorities are following procedures to control the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine,” said Al Owais.
The vaccine was tested with the help of 31,000 volunteers from 125 nationalities. Volunteers have displayed minor side effects, expected as a result of any vaccine, including headaches, fatigue and slight pain in the injection area. The UAE health authorities confirmed that 1,000 volunteers with history of chronic illness haven’t experiencedany complications after taking the vaccine.
The initial successful results of the vaccine mark the UAE’s positive steps in the vaccine development process.
The vaccine is provided optionally to health workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients.
The UAE’s vaccine trials are part of the extensive measures that the UAE has taken to contribute to the global collective efforts to curb COVID-19 pandemic that has posed the greatest public health emergency in modern history.
So far, the UAE has conducted over 8 million tests and recorded no new fatalities in the last 48 hours.
The vaccine was evaluated based on approval qualification criteria for emergency use, in accordance with the declaration of the global health authorities surrounding an emergency, the availability of scientific evidence on the effectiveness of the product and the benefits outweighing the risks.
The emergency use takes into account the target groups, product characteristics, clinical and pre-clinical study data and population study.
Health authorities are working closely in collaboration with the vaccine developers to monitor the progress of the vaccine and follow necessary safety measures to control the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
