The vaccine efficacy study recorded 93 per cent efficacy in preventing hospitalisation, and a 95 per cent efficacy in reducing the need for ICU treatment among infected patients.

On the other hand, residents should be aware that a COVID-19 infection does not guarantee immunity against the disease, and warned that an individual “may be infected again”. As the virus mutates, the risk of contracting COVID-19 increases. The chances of the virus mutating increase with its spread.

“It is also possible that after contracting COVID-19, even if the symptoms are mild, the infection may lead to long-term health complications,” the ADPHC warned.

This can result in post-COVID-19 syndrome, and the study saw that this can affect senior citizens, people with chronic disease and even otherwise healthy individuals.

“Complications include damage to multiple organs – such as the heart, lungs and brain, blood clots, and other complications that are currently unknown and that may require long-term medical attention,” the ADPHC said.

The study therefore confirmed the efficacy of vaccination in preventing severe COVID-19, as seen in preliminary results that led to the UAE government granting emergency use approval to the Sinopharm vaccine in December 2020. The Sinopharm vaccine, which underwent Phase III trials in the country, was the first to be registered in the UAE, and is the most widely delivered vaccine in Abu Dhabi emirate.

Since then, the Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines have also been registered in the UAE. Abu Dhabi health facilities and vaccination centres currently administer the Sinopharm and Sputnik vaccines.