The UAE is turning the tide against coronavirus

The numbers are in the UAE’s favour with cases falling below 3,000 after some concern in January.

Speed is of the essence during vaccine development and campaigns to check the spread of the coronavirus as this pandemic has taught the world. It began with the manufacture of vaccines in record time. It took less than a year for researchers, epidemiologists and virologists to come together in the spirit of cooperation and produce jabs that have given the world a fighting chance against Covid-19. Big Pharma too has delivered in the crunch and their combined stock is rising after years of getting a bad rap.

The UAE hasn’t wasted time and is leading the world in its effort to inoculate 50 per cent of its population by March, which gives it a better chance at herd immunity. It’s a sound strategy — to choke the spread of the pathogen in the country by helping more people develop antibodies using vaccines.

Distribution has been a gargantuan task, more so during the pandemic but the UAE has been up to speed thanks to its superior digital health system that has made it easier to get vaccines to people. More than 100 health facilities in the country have been set up and residents can register online and are sent an SMS to schedule appointments. It’s a smooth and efficient process and has been a success, perhaps the best in the world now that it set to overtake Israel in the number of jabs per 100 people. In fact, the UAE had administered 1.62 doses per 100 people from February 4 to 10, ahead of Israel, which had done 1.25 doses/100, according to Our World in Data.