The United Arab Emirates has given some people a third shot after they had failed to develop antibodies, despite having received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

Al Arabiya reports that spokeswoman for the health sector, Dr. Farida al-Hosani, said, “Some people received a third ‘booster’ of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, but the number is very minimal compared to those who received doses one and two.”

The vaccine is available at no charge for all citizens and residents of the UAE. Roughly 49 percent of the UAE’s population has already received a coronavirus vaccine.

Developed by China, the Sinopharm vaccine is reportedly 79 percent effective, but only for up to 28 days following the administration of the second dose.

Al Arabiya reports that other vaccines available in the UAE include the Pfizer-BioNtech, AstraZeneca-Oxford, and the Sputnik V vaccines.

Umm Muhammed Umar