The UAE has performed remarkably in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has set shining example when it comes to public health measures and treatment, said a UAE English-language daily newspaper.

In a Tuesday editorial, Gulf News said that when the coronavirus pandemic’s extent was evident in 2020 early, it was crystal clear that vaccination is the only way to beat the virus. 

The paper said, "A year and a half later on almost two-thirds of the UAE population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There are several reasons to be confident that this winning strategy is overcoming the coronavirus and its ability to mutate and spread new variants.”

"According to global comparisons of vaccination programmes and counting the number of doses of vaccine delivered per capita, we can take pride in knowing that the UAE now leads the world in vaccination rates. Simply put, the UAE has delivered the most jabs to most people better than anywhere else in the world."

The UAE government, health services, medical staff, officials and volunteers who have worked relentlessly during pandemic are now world-beaters. They have delivered 15.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, that will potentially cover 72.1 per cent of the population.

That’s a milestone of achievement in a country of 10 million population. Only Seychelles comes close to this vaccination rate of UAE which has delivered 71.7 percent to its small population of around 100,000 people. 

The editorial stated that the country’s success is attributed to UAE’s high vaccination rate whose "full credit goes to those who worked so tirelessly to maintain our vigilance against this pandemic".

It continued, "The UAE has taken a range of measures to contain the ongoing crisis, and the government has also stipulated the practices and actions that violate the national health and safety procedures with stiff penalties.”

"All of this would not have been possible without active public support. The community’s commitment to the procedures and guidelines was one of the main reasons why the UAE succeeded in containing the infection. The reality moving forward is that blanket vaccination coverage is essential in returning things back to normality." 

The Dubai-based daily concluded by saying, "The sooner other nations catch up, the faster can international travel be restored. A global collaborative effort is therefore important to ensure that businesses and industries return to pre-pandemic levels. The lesson now is that there is indeed light at the end of this dark tunnel."

Source: WAM