In a major development, Chinese health authorities have approved the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for the general use of its citizens.

Responding to the announcement made by the Chinese health authorities, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad Al Owais also confirmed Beijing's approval of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine for general use.

He revealed that the Chinese authorities approved the same Sinopharm vaccine that the UAE government used in its groundbreaking ‘4Humanity’ trials. In July 2020, the UAE became the first country across the world to launch the clinical Phase III trial of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm with the aim of combating the pandemic crisis. Later on December 9, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) officially registered the vaccine.

Al Owais congratulated Sinopharm after Chinese authorities successfully registered the COVID-19 vaccine. He further expressed happiness, asserting that Sinopharm's vaccine will be accessible to the UAE citizens and residents during the vaccination campaign.

The Minister noted that the UAE was the first country globally to have registered the Sinopharm vaccine for its inoculation campaign.

"I am pleased to see that the core results of the two interim results are consistent with high protection rate and robust safety profile and that the vaccine will be readily accessible in the UAE for population vaccination," he added.

In conclusion, Al Owais affirmed that the UAE will continue to work with its partners across the world to ensure a collaborated response to tackle the pandemic crisis.

WAM