Coronavirus: Sinopharm vaccine more than 90 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation, Abu Dhabi study says

No deaths were recorded among those who received the required doses

Abu Dhabi resident Abdulaziz Karmastaji gets vaccinated at Seha's cruise ship terminal facility in January

Abu Dhabi resident Shaikha Al Dheiri waiting to get vaccinated.

A healthcare worker smiles for the cameras.

Nearly 20,000 people are vaccinated daily at the centre.

Mohamed Hawas Al Sadid, chief executive of Seha, said nearly 20,000 people are getting shots every day.

People in the waiting room.

An Emirati waits for her turn to get the vaccine.

A young Emirati at the vaccination centre at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal area.

Aya, 24, and Jana, 18, after receiving the vaccine. The Sinopharm vaccine is available across the country without charge at dozens of hospitals, vaccination centres, majlis and clinics.

The Covid-19 vaccination drive is the country's largest to date. The health authorities aim to inoculate half the population by the end of the first quarter.

(L to R) - Emirati healthcare workers, Mouza Al Beshr, Khadija Al Nuaimi and Za,zam Al Naqbi at the Seha vaccination centre.

Related: How to book Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm shots in Dubai

The Sinopharm vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective at keeping people infected with the coronavirus out of hospital, according to a study conducted in Abu Dhabi.

Authorities said the research found a significant decrease in the rate of new Covid-19 infections among people who received a second dose of the vaccine in the emirate.

The study, conducted by Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, found the vast majority of those who were infected after completing the course suffered mild symptoms and did not require treatment in hospital.

The vaccine was found to be 93 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisation and 95 per cent effective against admission to intensive care, according to the research.

No deaths were recorded among people who received all doses required, Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

“The study found the efficacy of vaccination in preventing hospitalisation is 93 per cent, while the efficacy of vaccination in reducing the need to be admitted to an ICU is 95 per cent.

“The study found no deaths related to Covid-19 have been recorded in patients who received all doses required.”

It is not known when the study was conducted or how many people were included in the research.

Immunity against the coronavirus is best achieved through vaccination and by sticking to precautionary measures designed to restrict the spread of the virus, the researchers said.

The study also found immunity is not guaranteed after infection.

The researchers said the risk of contracting the virus increases as the virus mutates, and that the chances of the virus mutating increase with its spread.

There is also a possibility that the infection may lead to long-term health complications.

The study found post-Covid-19 syndrome, also known as long Covid, “may affect some senior citizens, people with chronic diseases, and even healthy individuals”.

“Complications include damage to multiple organs, blood clots, and other complications that may require long-term medical attention,” the media office said.

In a discussion by video about the pandemic on Sunday, Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokeswoman of the UAE health sector and director of the Communicable Diseases Department at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said the vaccines available in the country are “among the best in the world”.

She said the UAE aims to expand vaccine treatment help the population acquire immunity.

She also stressed the importance of vaccination to reduce infections to protect the elderly and children.