A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is significantly the second major stamp of approval for China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. The study was carried out on the basis of the clinical trials of the Sinopharm vaccine conducted in several countries, including the UAE and Bahrain. According to the study, the Sinopharm vaccine has shown more than 70 percent efficacy against symptomatic cases after two doses.

Earlier this month, the Sinopharm vaccine received World Health Organisation's (WHO) approval for emergency use. According to the international health agency, large-scale multi-country phase-3 clinical trials of two doses of Sinopharm vaccine (administered at an interval of 21 days) have resulted in an efficacy of 79 percent against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, vaccine efficacy against hospitalisation proved to be 79 percent.

The UAE has believed in the Sinopharm vaccine for months now. The health sector authorities approved the vaccine in September 2020 for emergency use for frontline workers across the country.

The UAE authorities launched phase 3 clinical trials of the Sinopharm vaccine in July 2020, with the participation of tens of thousands of volunteers from more than 120 nationalities. According to the data by the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the vaccine showed a 100 percent protection rate against moderate and severe and COVID-19 infections. Overall, the vaccine achieved an efficacy rate of 86 percent as per experts in Abu Dhabi.

In addition, the UAE recently approved the Sinopharm vaccine's booster doses for residents six months after they received their second dose. Under the programme, the authorities will prioritise the elderly and those with chronic diseases. The booster dose will help in enhancing immunity and producing antibodies against the COVID-19 virus.

The UAE has emerged in leading positions across the world in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates. As of May 26, the country has administered 12.41 million vaccine doses, at an increased rate of 125.53 doses per 100 people.