Coronavirus: UAE officials expect vaccine to be available by end of 2020, early 2021

Health officials in the United Arab Emirates expect that a coronavirus vaccine will be available on the global market a government health spokeswoman said on Monday.

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“We are expecting that at a global level, widespread use of vaccination will start at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, based on the study results,” Dr. Farida al-Hosani said during the launch of a nationwide seasonal flu campaign.

The availability of the vaccine is still dependent on the results of ongoing trials, she added.

UAE's Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman al-Owais takes the first COVID-19 vaccine dose. (WAM)

Thousands of people in the UAE have volunteered to be a part of the Phase III trial for a vaccine by Chinese drugmaker Sinopharm.

Earlier this month, the UAE issued emergency approval for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for front line workers helping treat coronavirus patients.

So far, dozens of officials have been vaccinated, including the Minister of Health.

Children between the ages of 15 and 18, frontline health care workers, those with confirmed chronic health issues, those over age 60, and those working in some government institutions can receive the vaccine for free.

The UAE has urged children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic health issues to get the vaccine, and people who fall in one of these categories will receive the vaccination for free.

The vaccine is still not available to the general public. For questions about the vaccine, the hotline phone number is 02 819 1111.

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