Abu Dhabi health officials take second shot of COVID-19 vaccine

Clinical trials for the UAE's COVID-19 vaccine are gaining momentum with two senior health officials receiving their second shots.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH) and Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, the Department’s Acting Undersecretary were the first two persons to sign up for the trial programme, which started last month.

Both of them have displayed no side effects and have shown robust immune responses to the tests so far.

Around 15,000 volunteers are required in order to conclude the scientific research phase and to take the vaccine to market.

The third phase of the clinical trial is being managed by G42 healthcare in partnership with the DoH, SEHA and Chinese drug maker Sinopharm.

Commenting on taking the second shot and its significance to the trials, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed said, "What’s great about this is that anyone who gets the vaccine will be free to move around the country without the need for a PCR test."

Dr. Al Kaabi said, "To those who are participating in this trial study, we say: there is no need to worry at all. You are part of this trial. If the vaccine proves to be successful and approved for use, you will be one of the first people to get vaccinated."

Abdullah Al Hamed: After having the first dose of the vaccine, we felt no side effects at all. In order to conclude the scientific research phase and to progress to taking the vaccine to market, we need around 15,000 volunteers.

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) August 5, 2020