The United Arab Emirates has continually focused on the value of international cooperation in accelerating the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The country has followed a collaborative approach and adopted an interspersed vaccine production and distribution system.

This detail came up during the participation of Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, in the first meeting of the International Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation hosted by China.

Al Hashemy communicated that the UAE has led global efforts to combat the pandemic in solidarity with the international community. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the UAE continues to provide urgent medical supplies globally to assist the efforts of several nations to restrain the pandemic. The UAE has dispatched over 2,200 tonnes of medical supplies to over 135 countries, particularly throughout Africa and Asia.

The UAE also plays a significant role as a logistical centre in the fight against COVID-19. The Dubai-based International Humanitarian City played an essential role in shipping 80% of global medical supplies and preventative equipment in response to the pandemic. The UAE has supported establishing fully-equipped field hospitals (Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospitals) in Jordan, Guinea-Conakry, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, and Mauritania. These hospitals have added to increase the capacity of health authorities in containing COVID-19.

Al Hashemy continued that in resemblance, the UAE has utilized its advanced logistical capabilities and transportation facilities and services to help expedite the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. Including storage and handling facilities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in close cooperation with Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines, thereby geographically covering nearly 3.6 billion people worldwide.

The UAE has also announced an in-kind donation of USD 50 million to the COVAX initiative to facilitate vaccine transport and delivery globally.

She also referred to the recent collaboration with China to host the first COVID-19 vaccine production project in the UAE, "Hayat Vax",; an advantage added to international efforts facing the COVID-19 crisis.

WAM