The UAE Health Sector addressed its weekly press briefing on Tuesday to share the details about the ongoing vaccination campaign in the country. The official spokesperson of the UAE Health Sector, Dr Farida Al Hosani, announced that 8 percent of the country's population has been vaccinated so far. She further confirmed that the UAE is planning to inoculate 50 percent of the UAE's population during the first three months of 2021.

During the briefing, Dr Al Hosani urged the public to adhere to precautionary measures even after taking the vaccine shot. She asserted that people must continue to comply with preventive measures such as wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Dr Al Hosani added that the vaccine is currently available at various government and private health facilities as well as vaccination centres. She noted that the UAE Health Sector is ensuring all possible efforts to vaccinate a large section of the country as part of the inoculation campaign.

Rise in COVID-19 cases

Further in the briefing, she revealed that a rise in the number of daily reported cases is being observed across the country. In this regard, she added that the authorities are working on controlling the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring that the ongoing procedures are regularly reviewed. The authorities have kept their focus on vaccinating the largest possible percentage of the population to curb virus spread.

Dr Al Hosani assured that the vaccine is 100 percent effective for individuals above the age of 60 years, advising them to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus.

She added that 826,301 vaccine doses have been given so far, which accounts for 47,000 shots per day. This figure indicates that about 8 percent of the UAE’s population has been vaccinated so far.

“We seek to ensure that more than 50 percent of the UAE’s population have been vaccinated during the first quarter of 2021,” the Health Sector spokesperson noted.

She explained that the vaccine is taken in two doses, taken at least 3-4 weeks apart from each other. However, she also stated that taking the vaccine is optional and not compulsory for UAE people.

Dr Al Hosani further highlighted that people who are highly vulnerable to the impact of the disease have been given priority in the vaccination campaign, which includes the elderly population and those suffering from chronic diseases.

It has been seen through history that vaccines have protected children and adults against infectious diseases and their complications, which leads to the development of a healthy society.

As of now, vaccines are available for those who are above 18-year-old, noting that they are spreading the disease more than other age groups.