Almost two thirds of the UAE population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, health authorities have confirmed. Officials said at least 63.7 per cent of the population have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine. The latest figures also show that just under three quarters – 73.8 per cent – of the population had received at least one dose. The figures came in new breakdowns of the UAE's vaccination programme from the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Previously, statistics showed doses administered, but now officials have released the details by first and second dose. UAE authorities have deployed mass testing, strict guidelines and one of the world's fastest vaccination programmes to curb the pandemic. More than 15.5 million doses have been administered so far. Authorities reported 1,632 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, with new infections down sharply after reaching close to 4,000 in January. New and more infectious variants of the coronavirus are continuing to cause problems for many countries across the globe. The UAE last week said the more infectious Delta variant <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/highly-contagious-delta-variant-accounts-for-one-in-three-uae-cases-1.1249954" target="_blank">accounted for about 30 per cent</a> of cases here. However, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/how-effective-are-covid-19-vaccines-at-beating-the-delta-variant-1.1250922" target="_blank">vaccines still work</a> against variants such as Delta. UAE officials have repeatedly urged residents to get vaccinated.
