Exactly one year ago the UAE launched its robust national COVID-19 vaccination drive to contain the impact of the pandemic crisis. As of December 7, approximately 91 percent of the country’s residents are have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In the past one year, the UAE authorities have ensured continuous efforts to protect all community members against COVID-19. Despite being the world's most country, the UAE continues to implement safety precautions such as wearing of face masks and following social distancing to enhance the fight against the pandemic.

Here are the key milestones in the UAE’s vaccination drive.

December 9, 2020: Vaccine receives approval

The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention approved the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for mass use after trials showed high rates of efficacy against the virus.

December 10, 2020: Residents line up to get the vaccination

Residents from across the country queued up at hospitals after authorities ensured wide availability of the vaccines. UAE leadership and authorities received massive praises for their proactive measures to ensure the provision of the vaccination for free for all.

December 23, 2020: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine gets approved for mass use

The UAE authorities further introduced Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for mass use to expand the scope of vaccination drive in the country.

December 24: First five Dubai residents to receive Pfizer vaccine

A day after Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was approved for mass use, five Dubai residents were the first to receive it. They included senior Emirati citizen Ali Salem Ali Alaiddi; Adel Hassan Shukralla of Dubai Police; DHA nurse Asha Susan Philip; Dubai Ambulance worker Shamma Saif Rashid Alalili; and RTA driver Asif Khan Fazle Subhan.

May 19, 2021: Booster vaccine doses approved

In line with the extensive efforts to curb the pandemic crisis, UAE health sector approved the booster vaccine doses for people at high-risk of COVID-19 infection including those with less immunity and people with chronic illnesses.

As of now, in the UAE, every fully vaccinated resident is eligible to take the booster dose six months after their second dose.

July 2021: UAE becomes the world's most vaccinated country

Only months after launching its nationwide vaccination campaign, the UAE achieved massive success in vaccinating the maximum number of people in the country. As UAE leaders and official urged the public to get vaccinated, people also complied with the protocols and rushed to health centres to receive the vaccine.

August 3, 2021: UAE approves Sinopharm vaccine for children

After receiving successful results in initial vaccine trials for children, the UAE approved Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 3-17. Prior to this, only those aged above 16 were eligible to receive the vaccine.

August 20, 2021: Abu Dhabi restricts entry for only vaccinated residents to a majority of public places

Abu Dhabi implemented the Green Pass protocol in view of the rise in the number of people receiving the vaccines and booster doses.

October 21, 2021: UAE approves Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 5 and over

Authorities took the decision after results of clinical studies indicated that Pfizer vaccine is “safe” for children. As per the results, it generated strong immune response among children between the age of 5 and 11 years.

November 28, 2021: Booster made available to all

In view of the spread of new COVID-19 strains across the world, the UAE announced booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Sputnik vaccines for all residents aged 18 and over. The health sector is administering the booster doses to fully vaccinated individuals six months after their second dose.

November 2021: All eligible residents get COVID-19 jab

UAE's frontline workers continued their efforts to vaccinate community members with success in administering at least one dose to all eligible residents today.