The world’s first inactivated vaccine trial in UAE has reached phase III and has achieved volunteer mark of 15,000 in less than a month from 107 nationalities. The trails which are managed by G42 Healthcare in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), have successfully screened and vaccinated the volunteers with first of the two vaccine shots to be given. The inactivated vaccine has been developed by the leading vaccine manufacturer Sinopharm CNBG. Registrations are open for volunteers at portal www.4humanity.ae.

Volunteers are now entering the next stage of trials in which they will receive the second shot. They will continue to go through regular monitoring and check ups along with complete support from health services. The #4Humanity trials which were launched in Abu Dhabi on July 16 have helped seal the eagerness of UAE population to help fulfilling UAE leadership’s commitment to curb the pandemic spread through collaborative efforts on an international level.

Volunteers are from across 107 nationalities and through diversified demographics. It also includes over 4500 Emiratis. The vaccine trial is being facilitated by support from over 140mdoctors, 300 nurses and many administrative staff and staff from technical areas.

Simple and swift protocols have been beneficial for volunteers which have helped them to conveniently access walk-in centres at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi and Al Qarain Health Centre in Sharjah to get registered, screened and administered for first dose of vaccination. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, Sinopharm and G42 Healthcare have lauded the volunteers for their service to humanity. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said, “This is a very proud day for everyone associated with these trials and we are looking forward to continuing to play an integral role in the work to come in the months ahead.”

“Securing this milestone is a testament to the commitment and partnership of the relevant authorities working together to conduct the largest possible number of medical tests and providing the necessary care for those infected, while simultaneously strengthening the UAE’s cooperation with international partners to develop a safe vaccine against the disease”, he added.

The first individual in world to begin phase III trial of inactivated vaccine for Covid-19 was Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, the Chairman of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi. He has already received the first and second shot. He added, “I was enormously proud to have been the first volunteer and since then it has been truly heartwarming to see how the nation has pulled together, helping us achieve our target of participants in just four weeks since the trials began. We are a nation of extraordinary people, one that individuals from all over the world call home, and together we are committed to finding a global solution for COVID-19.”

UAE Principal Investigator, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City CMO and Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Clinical Management Committee Dr. Nawal Ahmed Alkaabi said, “This is a wonderful achievement and the importance to get involved in these clinical trials has captured the imagination of the nation and the 15,000 volunteers who have stepped up to participate. Once again it goes to show the passion and commitment of everyone living and working here in the UAE to play their part for the good of humanity.”

“I would like to express my appreciation to the UAE leadership for enabling these ground-breaking trials to happen and of course to our volunteers and to the hugely committed clinical and administrative staff for their professionalism in processing our volunteers so quickly and efficiently.”

G42 Healthcare CEO Ashish Koshy said, “The 107 nationalities who have now volunteered are a powerful vindication of the decision we made to encourage Sinopharm CNBG to partner with us in the UAE because of the enormously diverse and wide-ranging ethnicity and demographics of the country’s population.”

He added, “But this milestone only marks the completion of the volunteer first vaccination phase. The combined scientific and clinical teams will now be ensuring the smooth management of our 15,000 volunteers through every stage of their 42-day journey that includes regular check-ups and of course returning for a second shot of the inactivated vaccine.”

Jingjin Zhu, President of Sinopharm Group Biological Products said, “The speed of these trials to date and the incredible diversity of volunteers who have been vaccinated has fully reinforced our decision that the UAE was a perfect location to test our inactivated vaccine and reach the widest demographic and ethnic range of volunteers.”

He continued, “We would like to thank our partners G42 Healthcare and the UAE’s health authorities for their hard work and professionalism and we look forward to continued success as the trials proceed in the weeks and months ahead.”

As the trial is extending outside the country, many volunteers have registered for the phase III of trial in Bahrain which will be managed by G42 Healthcare along with the Bahrain Ministry of Health. These results will be included in the trials that began in the UAE and will use the same inactivated vaccine developed by Sinopharm CNBG and will follow identical clinical protocols.

Planning is underway to open new centres in various locations to ensure there is opportunity for individuals to participate in 4Humanity campaign. 

WAM