UAE health chiefs get first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

Medics at Al Qassimi Hospital for women and children in Sharjah have also received their first jab

A volunteer undergoes a check-up before being accepted to the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Vaccine volunteers at the Adnec volunteer facility. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers read information about the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Vaccine volunteers wait to be screened at the Adnec facility. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer has his heart rate checked after registering to take part in the Covid-19 clinical trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait to be screened and injected with the Covid-19 vaccine at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers are led to a stall where they are screened and vaccinated as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait to be screened and injected with the Covid-19 vaccine at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Nurses update medical records as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mother-of-three, 41, has volunteered as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial because her husband is in the aviation industry, which has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer, 26, takes part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial to give back and support the UAE. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait their turn to be screened and inoculated with the first of two Covid-19 vaccines. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait their turn to be inoculated with the first of two Covid-19 vaccines. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers register to take part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Staff take a selfie in front of the monitor that displays the number of volunteers who have been vaccinated since the start if the trial. Victor Besa / The National

A monitor displays the number of volunteers who have received their first vaccine since the trial began. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer waits her turn to get a medical check up at the Covid-19 vaccine trial facility in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers read information about the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers for the Covid-19 vaccine trial wait to be screened at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

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.