Dubai receives first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shipment from Brussels

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai has received its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccines shipment from Brussels on Tuesday night.

The shipment was offloaded and cleared on priority basis on arrival at Emirates’ dedicated SkyPharma facility.

The Government of Dubai Media Office on its Twitter account said, “#Dubai receives first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccines transported from Brussles to Dubai on @Emirates  SkyCargo flight.”

Airport staff shift the package to a facility.

Photos shared by media office showed airport staff offloading the package and moving it to its SkyPharma facility.

Officials in Dubai said the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech would be offered to citizens and residents free of charge.

The announcement comes after the UAE issued the first government authorisation of the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm, claiming it was 86% effective based on an "interim analysis” of Phase III trials.

Clinics across the seven Emirates have started administering the vaccine.

The UAE has recorded over 195,800 coronavirus cases and more than 600 deaths.