The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Chinese Embassy in UAE have jointly launched an official regional vaccination centre in Dubai.

The decision was taken after a meeting between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, in the UAE in March. During the meeting, the two ministers agreed on setting up a regional vaccination center in Dubai to ensure all members of the community are inoculated against COVID-19.

The vaccination programme has been titled ‘Spring Sprout Action’. Under the initiative, Dubai Health Authority will be administering the Sinopharm vaccine to all Chinese nationals over the age of 16, holding a short-term visa without UAE residency, staying in the emirate. All eligible Chinese nationals above the age of 16 will be given two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, which received the World Health Organisation's approval for emergency use in May 2021. 

A statement by news agency WAM underlined that all Chinese nationals temporarily visiting the UAE can access more details related to the programme on the official websites of the Chinese Embassy in the UAE and the Consulate-General in Dubai.

Notably, the UAE and China have been working jointly, sharing expertise, resources and technology to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the joint venture of Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 (G42) and Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm, a new factory in Abu Dhabi will be starting the production of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sinopharm later this year.

Meanwhile, the UAE Government continues to vaccinate all citizens and residents across the country in line with the national vaccination campaign.

WAM