The Department of Health Abu Dhabi, partnership with G42 Healthcare and Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA), recently opened a new purpose-built walk-in registration facility for volunteers who wish to participate in the world's first clinical Phase III trial of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. The walk-in registration facility has been opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) where the volunteers will be screened and tested for participation in the clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Volunteers who want to participate in the vaccine trials can directly visit the facility without making an appointment. With the size and resources to accommodate up to 1000 volunteers a day, the facility will only be open to volunteers who are residents in Abu Dhabi. The walk-in registration facility will benefit individuals who registered online but did not receive a follow-up call. They can visit the facility and receive on-site screening and will be given the first vaccination three days after they receive a negative test for COVID-19.

The registration and screening process at the ADNEC walk-in facility is being managed by a team of highly experienced and qualified nurses, administrators, healthcare professionals, and volunteers from SEHA. They will facilitate the hospitality of participants, screen and test them, and will be administering the inactivated vaccine. The facility will operate daily from 8 am to 8 pm, including the duration of Eid holidays except on Friday.

Since the beginning of the vaccine trials on July 16, thousands of individuals from every Emirate have volunteered and registered to participate in the programme. As more participants continue to show their interest, the new facility will ensure ease for volunteers in Abu Dhabi to register, be screened on-site, and then, if found eligible, be invited to take the first shot of the vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus.

As per reports, Abu Dhabi-based G42 Healthcare is undertaking the process of the clinical trial for the COVID-19 vaccine under the supervision of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi and collaboration of Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA). SEHA's specialized staff effectively carries out on-site operations for the programme. Meanwhile, the authorities are conducting a feasibility evaluation to set up similar walk-in sites in other parts of the UAE such that volunteers can participate in the programme with more convenience.

For more information, people can visit: www.4humanity.ae <http://www.4humanity.ae> Furthermore, they can stay up to date with announcements related to the trials and COVID-19 response measures on social media by following @AShot4Humanity and #4humanity on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Phase III clinical trials for the inactivated vaccine have started after the successful completion of Phase I and Phase II trials conducted by Sinopharm in China which provided 100% results with volunteers generating antibodies after two doses in 28 days. Volunteers aged between 18 and 60 living in the UAE are open to participate in the Phase III trials that will last between six to eight months. The programme will require the volunteers to be available only for follow-ups during this time period.

WAM