Sharjah - Ministry assigns Al Qarayen Health Centre in Sharjah as a site for the clinical trials.
Published: Wed 5 Aug 2020, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Thu 6 Aug 2020, 6:58 PM
The ongoing Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi is now open to all residents across the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has announced as it set up a centre for the 4Humanity programme in Sharjah.
Sharjah's Al Qarayen Health Centre has been officially assigned as the first centre outside Abu Dhabi to register, screen and test volunteers wishing to participate in the world's first Phase III clinical trials of an inactivated Covid-19 vaccine, the ministry said on Wednesday.
The move has been taken in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) and G42 Healthcare, which are leading the clinical trial operations that started last month. Since the programme's launch, thousands have come forward to volunteer.
Al Qarayen Health Centre can register and screen over 500 volunteers a day and it is open to residents from Sharjah, Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Volunteers should be 18 to 60 years of age with no serious underlying medical issues and without previous Covid-19 infection. They will be given two doses of the vaccine within a period of three weeks. This will be followed by monthly follow-ups for a year. The trials are expected to last for three to six months.
Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said: "We are strengthening our cooperation with international partners to support the development of a safe vaccine against the disease. Thus, expanding the geographical scope of the #4Humanity campaign to include all emirates aims to enhance the results of clinical trials and ensure the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine on a larger segment of individuals".
The expansion of the trials comes on the heels of the success of the walk-in registration and screening facility opened at Adnec prior to the Eid Al Adha holidays. It remains open from Sunday to Thursday from 8am to 8pm.
The vaccine being used in the process has been developed by pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm CNBG. During the first and second stage of trials carried out in China, 100 per cent of volunteers generated Covid-19 antibodies after two doses in 28 days.
Thousands of volunteers
Dr Mohammad Salim Al Olama, undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and chairman of the Emirates Health Services Establishment, added: "Thousands of people of different nationalities have already expressed their desire to take part in the clinical trials, which reflects the confidence in the UAE health system and its ability to conduct clinical trials to test the promising vaccine in partnership with local and international parties."
He reaffirmed that the centre has enough space and ideal facilities to conduct the medical tests for volunteers.
Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare, added: "The #4Humanity programme has captured the attention of residents in every emirate who are keen to volunteer and help find a cure for the world's biggest health challenge of the 21st century."
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