Covid-19: UAE vaccines effective against Delta, other variants

The UAE National Vaccination Programme has been effective against the different variants of SARS-CoV-2, medical experts said, while urging the unvaccinated to take the jab soon.

Experts say more than 80% of population need to be vaccinated to contain Delta variant.

“Delta is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far, has been identified in at least 85 countries and is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations.”

The Delta variant of the coronavirus, first identified in India, is a cause for global concern with studies showing it is more contagious and resistant to vaccines than other forms of COVID.

But there is also evidence vaccines retain important effectiveness against Delta after two doses.

According to the latest data released by the UAE’s health authorities, nearly 90 per cent of the new Covid cases, hospitalisations, admissions to the ICU and deaths have been of unvaccinated people.

A recent analysis by Public Health England also revealed that two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines – both available in the UAE – cuts chances of hospitalisation by 90 per cent if infected with the Delta – the newest variant detected in the country.

“SARS-CoV-2 constantly mutates, like other viruses, producing different variants. There are thousands of variants circulating across the world. However, most of these variants are inconsequential. The ‘variants of concern’ have evidence of increased transmissibility, severe disease or escape from protective antibodies produced by previous infection or vaccination. Alpha, Beta, and Delta are examples of these variants circulating in the UAE. The Delta is of significant concern because of its increased transmissibility,” said Dr Prashant Nasa, specialist critical care medicine, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Nahda, Dubai.

So get a vaccine jab as soon as possible to protect our lives.