In a major development, the UAE has administered more than 6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in the fight against the pandemic. As per a recent announcement by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the authorities administered 81,790 vaccine doses in the past 24 hours. With this figure, the total number of vaccine doses given to community members increased to a total of 6,015,089 at a rate of 60.82 doses per 100 people.

The vaccination efforts are underway in line with the plan of the ministry to inoculate all members of the community against the COVID-19 disease. The UAE health authorities are taking all possible efforts to reach acquired immunity from the vaccination in order to reduce the number of infected cases and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Earlier, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) stated that a 10-week interval is important between the first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca.

Taking to its social media platforms, the DHA underlined that recent studies performed by the University of Oxford on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have indicated a higher efficacy and higher acquired immunity when the interval between the first and second vaccine dose was increased.

Based on the study and recommendations made by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the DHA announced a 10-week interval between the two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

“All those who are due for the second dose of this vaccine will receive a text message with the date and location for their vaccination appointment,” DHA added. 

In another development, Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management extended the COVID-19 precautionary measures until the start of Ramadan in mid-April. The decision was taken in line with the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Supreme Committee decided based on an evaluation of the evolving COVID-19 situation. Data of the evaluation showed that intensified safety measures were effective in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Hailing the efforts of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention to successfully coordinating counter-pandemic measures, the Committee called on the public to continue compliance with precautionary measures to combat the pandemic in the country.