Virus cannot kill hope for vaccine

There seems to be some heartening news after months of distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe. Early data from trials of three potential COVID-19 vaccines released on Monday, including a closely-watched candidate from Oxford University, has increased confidence that a vaccine can train the immune system to recognise and fight the novel coronavirus without serious side effects.

It is true that whether any of these efforts will result in a vaccine capable of protecting billions of people and ending the global pandemic that has claimed more than 600,000 lives is still far from clear. All will require much larger studies to prove they can safely prevent infection or serious disease.

Agreed, jumping into conclusions may not help. But considering the amount of anxiety caused by the pandemic, any light at the end of the tunnel may certainly be viewed as a powerful reason for enthusiasm.

What is notable is that the vaccine being developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca along with the Oxford University induced an immune response in all study participants who received two doses without any worrisome side effects.

A coronavirus vaccine under development by CanSinoBiologics Inc and China’s military research unit, likewise showed that it appears to be safe and induced an immune response in most of the 508 healthy volunteers who got one dose of the vaccine.

Both the AstraZeneca and CanSino vaccines use a harmless cold virus known as an adenovirus to carry genetic material from the novel coronavirus into the body. Studies on both vaccines were published in the prestigious journal ‘The Lancet.’

The UAE, on its part, has always strived for global good. The #4Humanity campaign is another shining example.

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi has already announced the registration of 5,000 volunteers for the third phase of clinical trials for inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in Abu Dhabi during the first 24 hours of activating the registration site www.4humanity.ae.

The 4humanity urged residents to join the trial. It asked on social platforms, “Volunteers interested in participating in the world’s first WHO enlisted global clinical Phase III trials of COVID-19 inactivated vaccine in Abu Dhabi can now register on www.4Humanity.ae . A special hotline 028191111 has also been created for all volunteers signing up for the trials #4Humanity…”

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, was the first individual to be administered the Phase III inactivated vaccine for COVID-19.

The trials are the result of a partnership between Abu Dhabi based G42 Healthcare, currently at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19 in the UAE, and Sinopharm CNBG, the world’s sixth largest vaccine manufacturer.

The trials are being operated by health practitioners from Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) who are operating facilities at five of their sites in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in addition to a mobile clinic to ensure the trials are readily accessible to volunteers participating in the programme.

The UAE was the preferred choice to conduct the Phase III trials for the inactive COVID-19 vaccine because of its demographic heterogeneity, allowing for robust research across multiple ethnicities and increasing its feasibility for global application on the success of the trials.

All actions initiated by the UAE are aimed at making life better on the planet for all human beings. And that’s what makes every citizen and resident proud.