Coronavirus: UK Ambassador told of success of UAE-hosted Covid-19 vaccine trials

Abu Dhabi health officials shared the progress of the vaccine, developed by Chinese drug maker Sinopharm

A volunteer undergoes a check-up before being accepted to the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Vaccine volunteers at the Adnec volunteer facility. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers read information about the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Vaccine volunteers wait to be screened at the Adnec facility. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer has his heart rate checked after registering to take part in the Covid-19 clinical trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait to be screened and injected with the Covid-19 vaccine at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers are led to a stall where they are screened and vaccinated as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait to be screened and injected with the Covid-19 vaccine at Adnec. Victor Besa / The National

Nurses update medical records as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mother-of-three, 41, has volunteered as part of the Covid-19 vaccine trial because her husband is in the aviation industry, which has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer, 26, takes part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial to give back and support the UAE. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait their turn to be screened and inoculated with the first of two Covid-19 vaccines. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers wait their turn to be inoculated with the first of two Covid-19 vaccines. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers register to take part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Staff take a selfie in front of the monitor that displays the number of volunteers who have been vaccinated since the start if the trial. Victor Besa / The National

A monitor displays the number of volunteers who have received their first vaccine since the trial began. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer waits her turn to get a medical check up at the Covid-19 vaccine trial facility in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers read information about the Covid-19 vaccine trial at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers for the Covid-19 vaccine trial wait to be screened at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi health officials told of the success of Covid-19 vaccination trials hosted in the UAE during a meeting with a senior envoy.

Patrick Moody, UK ambassador to the UAE, was briefed on the Phase 3 clinical trials led by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm during a tour of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha).

The UAE approved limited use of the vaccination in September.

It has since been administered to thousands of military personnel and civilian officers from the UAE Armed Forces, frontline medical workers, police, senior officials and members of the UAE Cabinet, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

As part of the briefing, Mr Moody and his delegation were given an inside look at Seha's specialised centre for conducting the trials at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Developed by Sinopharm and G42 Healthcare, a subsidiary of G42 Group, the inactive vaccine’s clinical trials have been held in the capital as part of a collaborative effort between Abu Dhabi's   Department of Health Abu Dhabi and Seha.

"As we continue delivering the Covid-19 vaccine to frontline healthcare professionals and ensure the protection of our community, we are pleased to share our progress with Mr Moody," said Dr Marwan Al Kaabi, acting group chief operations officer at Seha.

"The key to the success of the third phase of the clinical trials has been collaboration and support from Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem of partners, enabling the nation to play an integral in providing a vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus.

"We are honoured to share the latest developments with Ambassador Moody, and extend our deepest gratitude to him, his delegation, and the wider community for their support during the clinical trials."

The ambassador was joined on the visit by Pippa Russo, life sciences adviser and Finola Hegarty, healthcare Adviser.

The group were welcomed by Dr Marwan Al Kaabi and Dr Nawal Ahmed Mohamed Al Kaabi, chief medical officer at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and principal investigator for the vaccine trials.

The Phase 3 trials form part of a global effort to combat Covid-19 and were overseen by the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Prevention.