In a major boost to the ongoing national vaccination drive, the UAE on Saturday achieved a significant milestone with the vaccine distribution rate reaching 200.67 doses per 100 people. This indicates that the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses has administered in the country has reached twice its population.

Since the launch of the vaccination drive, the UAE's health sector has administered more than 19.8 million vaccine doses across the Emirates. In the past 24 hours, a total of 71,886 vaccine doses have been given to people, according to the data issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP).

The ministry underlined that the achievement is in line with the ongoing plan to provide the crucial COVID-19 vaccines to all members of the community in order to reach acquired immunity and overcome the pandemic.

The mass vaccination drive is helping the health sector as the number of new infections has dropped drastically by more than 60 percent in recent weeks.

“It is heartening to learn that the UAE is rapidly vaccinating its people against COVID-19. Today, (Saturday) the nation has achieved yet another milestone. This is a commendable record in the vaccination effort among the world nations," said Dr Abdul Aneez, medical director of Medeor Hospital Dubai.

Going the extra mile, the UAE has been administering the booster vaccine doses to all eligible community members with the aim of enhancing their immunity against the virus.

“It is this step that has bolstered immunity and has significantly contributed to developing herd immunity,” Dr Aneez added.

The doctor explained that sustained vaccination efforts are helping in ensuring that the population develops immunity against the disease. Studies have shown that immunity has a waning effect over the months.

"It is at this point that the booster dose comes into effect, to continue to maintain the level of immunity in the population," Dr Aneez said.

He further hailed the UAE's leadership, government, MoHAP and all healthcare workers for this paramount achievement.

“This is no less feat when we are fighting an invisible enemy that has brought the world to a grinding halt,” he concluded.