UAE Approves Chinese Vaccine Found To Be 86 Percent Effective Against COVID-19

The fight against COVID-19 continues with several vaccines surfacing. But as far as the United Arab Emirates is concerned, it may have found one that can fight off the dreaded coronavirus.

According to the New York Times, the United Arab Emirates approved a Chinese coronavirus vaccine that is being tested in the country after preliminary data showed that it was 86 percent effective.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention reviewed the interim analysis made by Sinopharm of data from late-stage clinical trials. It returned an 86 percent effective in preventing infection from Covid-19.

Further, Sinopharm also showed that the vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing moderate and severe cases. There were also no safety concerns. However, it was not mentioned in the report of an independent analysis of raw data was made.

Regardless, this development is seen as a political win for China. They have three other vaccines that are in late-stage trials. Similar to what the United States Food and Drug Administration is following, the Chinese Food and Drug Administration says that a vaccine should be 50 percent effective before gaining approval.

“The announcement is a significant vote of confidence by the U.A.E.’s health authorities in the safety and efficacy of this vaccine,” the ministry said in a statement.

Though the development is huge, UAE did not officially mention whether they would start a mass vaccination program. They did approve the vaccine for emergency use in September but only for frontline workers who were at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

Top officials in the UAE, including Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, have publicly received the shots as part of the vaccine testing.

In related news, Morocco is also preparing for an ambitious COVID-19 vaccination program. They aim to vaccinate 80 percent of its adults in an operation starting this month that’s relying initially on the Sinopharm vaccine.

Sinopharm is also conducting trials in Bahrain, Jordan, Peru, Argentina and elsewhere where there are more than 60,000 volunteers.