Coronavirus: UAE vaccinates 887,697 people since launch of COVID-19 shot campaign
January 8, 2021, 11:04 am

Coronavirus: UAE vaccinates 887,697 people since launch of COVID-19 shot campaign

People sit as they wait their turn for vaccine trials in Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 6, 2020. (Reuters)

The United Arab Emirates has vaccinated 887,697 people – nearly 10 percent of its population – since it first launched the inoculation campaign in December, the official WAM News Agency reported.

“In line with its plan to vaccinate more than 50 percent of the country's population against COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that 61,396 people have got a coronavirus vaccine over the last 24hrs, bringing to 887,697 the total number of shots taken so far across the nation,” according to WAM.

The UAE has a population of 9.9 million people, according to the World Meters website.

Residents and nationals across the UAE can volunteer to receive a vaccine shot, however, priority is being given to the elderly, as well as those over 18 years of age with chronic illnesses, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

https://twitter.com/NCEMAUAE/status/1347232548955574273

The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine was first approved for use in the country after it showed 86 percent efficacy in trials that included 31,000 participants in the UAE, according to regulators.

On December 24, Dubai authorities announced the approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use in the emirate. It is available for free for all residents and nationals living in Dubai with the first phase of rollout including only the elderly and people with preexisting conditions.

The UAE has seen a drastic spike in new COVID-19 infections with nearly 3,000 new cases reported in a single day on Thursday. However, the death toll remains low with 694 deaths reported as of January 7. Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries has reached 199,178.

source: Joanne Serrieh

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”