Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi physician suspended for discussing involvement in Covid-19 vaccine trial

The health worker shared his immunity results in a video clip

More than 100 vaccines against Covid-19 are being developed around the world. AFP

An Abu Dhabi physician has been suspended after breaching a confidentiality agreement by discussing his involvement in clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine.

Abu Dhabi's Department of Health took action after the health worker revealed his immunity results in a video clip following his participation in the trial.

The UAE hosted a Phase-3 trial of China's Sinopharm vaccine which involved 31,000 volunteers in the Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan.

The jab has since been administered to frontline medical workers, senior officials and some members of the Cabinet, after it received approval from the UAE Government for limited use in September.

"Revealing such information violates UAE legislation, and breaches protocol around the clinical trials and confidentially agreements," said a Department of Health statement.

"Clinical trials are conducted according to strict healthcare procedures and international protocols.

"As is the case with any scientific research, all clinical trial participants are subject to confidentiality agreements. These require that they do not disclose any details, unless a relevant entity chooses to do so."

Leading UAE figures receive vaccine:

The country hosted a Phase-3 trial that involved 31,000 volunteers in the Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan.

The jab has since been administered to frontline medical workers, senior officials and some members of the Cabinet, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, after it received approval from the UAE Government for limited use in September.

In mid-October, China National Biotec Group, part of Sinopharm, which has two vaccines in development, said about 480,000 people had taken the jab to date. A further 93,000-plus had applied to be inoculated.

The results of the Phase-3 trial have not been independently reviewed in a published article yet, but a study in Lancet Infectious Diseases last month showed strong results from Phase 1 and 2, including in people older than 60.

Sinopharm's Phase-1 and 2 trials were carried out in China between 29 April and 30 July and involved more than 600 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 80.

In those two phases, the Lancet article said, the vaccine triggered antibodies that block the virus from infecting cells in all volunteers within 42 days.