Three health officials and medics in a Sharjah hospital have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
The jab was approved for use last week after tests found the vaccine to be safe and effective in preventing a person from developing Covid-19.
Abdulrahman Al Owais, the country's health minister, received a shot last week.
He said the inactive vaccine could be used in "cases of emergency" involving healthcare staff to protect them from the virus.
Dr Yousef Al Serkal, assistant undersecretary for Hospitals Sector, Dr Hussein Al Rand, assistant undersecretary for Centres and Health Clinics, and Awad Al Ketbi, assistant undersecretary for Support Services, have received their first shots, reported Wam.
A dose of the vaccine has also been administered to the medical and nursing staff at Al Qassimi Hospital for women and children.
“Starting administering the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Al Qassimi Hospital Sharjah comes in light of the great success achieved by the UAE in the clinical trials of the vaccine,” said the statement.
The health condition of those inoculated will be monitored for any side effects.
“The ministry is following many measures to control the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine. [This] includes the emergency use of the product, determining the number of target groups, the dose and the vaccination system," the statement said.
The vaccine, developed by Chinese drug maker Sinopharm, fully complied with regulations after a series of successful trials.
More than 31,000 volunteers were part of trials, including more than 1,000 people with underlying health conditions.
Those participating in the study only reported mild symptoms such as a sore throat, a similar response seen in those who take the annual seasonal flu vaccine.
Sinopharm conducted phases 1 and 2 of the trials in China and the third stage in Abu Dhabi, and later in Bahrain and Jordan.
