Abu Dhabi: Since the launch of the first global trials of an inactivated coronavirus vaccine in Abu Dhabi, thousands of citizens have signed up to verify the protection and efficacy of the vaccine.
The vaccine itself evolved through Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm China National Biotec Group, and has been shown to generate antibodies in all other people who won two injections 28 days apart in Phase I and Phase II.
In the United Arab Emirates, the trials, called 4Humanity, are sponsored through the Abu Dhabi-based Corporate Group 42 of Synthetic Intelligence and Cloud Computing, and are overseen through the Abu Dhabi Health Regulator, the Ministry of Health (DoH) and the United Arab Emirates. . Ministry of Health and Prevention. Abu Dhabi’s public exercise provider, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), conducts trials and manages all medical facets and patient information.
Persons of all nationalities between the ages of 18 and 60 living in the United Arab Emirates are eligible to participate in trials, provided they meet other inclusion criteria. For example, they may not have suffered COVID-19, immunosuppressed or other chronic diseases.
In the first 3 weeks or so, trials only opened in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and it was reported that more than 10,000 people were volunteers. In addition to a committed registration website, a non-appointment clinic and vaccination center were established at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (Adnec).
On Wednesday, Seha opened its first outdoor vaccine testing center in Abu Dhabi, located at the Al Qarayen Health Center in Sharjah.
In addition to the more than 5,000 people who signed up for trials in the first 24 hours after its release on July 16, many others also volunteered for Eid’s recent break.
Gulf News spoke to a cross-section of people, and will follow the journey of three volunteers as they undergo the 42-day trial process.
Why I am doing it: I’ve been very excited about the vaccine trials ever since they were announced last month, and noted excitedly how quickly the first 5,000 volunteers came forward. So as soon as the sign-up website was launched, I registered myself.
Any vaccine that is developed will be for the good of humanity as whole, and I want to be a part of the process.
Registration: On August 1, I was visiting family in the Al Dhafra town of Liwa when I got a message asking me to come in for the assessment and vaccine. I might have stayed longer, but I decided to drive back home to the capital so I could go for the tests the next day itself.
I drove to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) in the morning, reaching at just about midday. I didn’t exactly know where to go, but there were a lot of people on-site to guide me.
Receiving the vaccine — Day 0: I was directed to the parking from Gate 5, and then reached the ground floor, where the vaccine trials are being organised.
At first, I was asked if I had recently been tested for COVID-19. Employees in a semi-government company, they test us every two weeks. So, when I informed the volunteers, they gave me a green headband. I think other people who haven’t been evaluated recently have a red stripe.
Then I was directed to the check-in desk, where I had to provide my ID. It only took a few minutes to record my non-public information, and then I was taken to a room where a nurse did an initial evaluation. I took my blood pressure and the temperature of the picture, and I had a urine test to see if I was pregnant. He also took a blood pattern and a nasal swab.
Then a doctor came here for a medical evaluation. I asked about my general fitness and, as the doctor found out there was nothing to worry about, I referred to the vaccine delivery room.
A nurse shot me in the upper arm. It was not uncomfortable; it was like a normal injection. Then they introduced me to a new thermometer so I could control the temperature of my blood, an N95 mask box and a brochure. The nurse explained to me how I could fill the symptoms I had detected and how to touch the Abu Dhabi Health Services Society (Seha) if I didn’t feel well.
She also gave me three hundred Dh coupons, which I didn’t expect!
Then they took me to a room, where I waited about 30 minutes. A nurse would come every 10 minutes to check me, adding the temperature of my picture and blood pressure.
When they were convinced I was okay, I was able to get home.
The next day – Day 1: I won a text message the next day telling me I’d be waiting for a teleconsultation call. The online user asked me in detail how I felt, and when I had nothing to report, I was told I could be waiting for my next call on August 5.
Today – Day 3: I still feel wonderful and I don’t have much to say. So this morning we’re going to call a regimen check. I hope this continues in the same way, and I am extremely happy to see that my body produces antibodies opposite COVID-19 after the vaccine.
The verdict: until now, the total procedure has been very simple, and it has not been a genuine challenge from the moment I had to commit. I was told that this total procedure had to be in town, which is not really too complicated at the moment. As this is Phase III, I know that this vaccine has been effective and safe in the first two stages of trials, so I don’t think you have any problems with that. For now, I am proud to be a component of this historic procedure.
Why I do it: the global total faces one of the worst mistakes due to this pandemic. People lose those who enjoy and face constant loss and suffering.
If I can alleviate this challenge by participating in a vaccine trial, I’d be happy.
Also, I am constantly in danger of contracting COVID-19 because of my paintings on the front. I believe that participating in a vaccine trial deserves not to particularly adjust this threat. So when we won an email from our employer encouraging us to volunteer, I moved on.
Registration: because in Al Ain, the trials forced me to move to the clinic without an appointment from Abu Dhabi in Adnec. So I left after the paintings on August 3, arriving at the clinic at 7 p.m.
I found the parking lot at the moment on the simple floor and went down to the clinic.
Receiving the vaccine – Day 0: A volunteer asked me if I had been tested for COVID-19 in the last two weeks. This is a requirement for all physical health professionals, so a stripe has been placed on my wrist.
At the check-in desk, I presented my Emirates ID and waited for me to check in. Then I won a brochure and a consent form.
Referring to a room, a nurse came here to do some initial temperature and blood pressure checks, and then a general practitioner evaluated me medically. He asked me if I had chronic illnesses or if I was taking medication. Confirming that I’m healthy, they let me take the next step.
First I had to point out the consent form, which also said that any remedy that needed the vaccine testing procedure would be completely covered.
Then a nurse took my blood to remove a full metabolic panel and administered a nasal swab.
Then I went to another room to get vaccinated. The vaccine was long coming from the pharmacy. The puncture was administered in the deltoid muscle in the upper arm and then explained how to record the symptoms he had detected from there. I also won a thermometer as a gift.
In the room, I waited for about an hour while a nurse watched me from time to time.
In the absence of a replacement or reaction, the medical bracelet got undone and I was able to move home.
The next day – Day 1: I was called the next day. The fitness professional asked me if I felt feverish or tired, or if I had had a cough. I hadn’t, but I was a little tired of the road to Abu Dhabi.
And then: I have my next teleconsultation scheduled for August 9. I’ll also have to go through my time on August 24th, and I’ve already been booked. So I move on to the paintings of the day and I head to Abu Dhabi.
The verdict: I have to agree it is probably a commitment to participate in the trials. You have to record symptoms, and be available on the day of the shot and for the regular teleconsultations. But it is more than eight months since the outbreak began, so it is really time for us to put an end to it with a vaccine.
My family in Egypt, including my five daughters aged one to 20 years, were a bit concerned when I first told them I was signing up for these trials. But now they’re just proud of me.
Why I am doing it: The quicker a vaccine is available against COVID-19, the quicker we can get back to normal, and provide relief to thousands of people across the globe. And the more people that volunteer that volunteer for these trials, the quicker the developers can create a vaccine.
I think there’s a chance this vaccine will work. There have already been two successful tests, after all.
So, when I heard about the need for more volunteers, I left.
Registration: I went down to Adnec on Saturday, August 1 at 6 p.m.
I was given a green band that showed I have recently been tested for COVID-19, then I headed to the registration counters. This was very easy, and I only had to provide my Emirates ID and mobile number. I was also given a vaccine diary at this stage.
In a nearby room, I was then assessed medically. A nurse took my blood pressure and temperature, and when these were normal, she took a blood sample and a nasal swab to test for the coronavirus.
I was then directed to a vaccination room. Everything was routine, and I received a shot on my upper arm.
At the observation room, I had to wait for about 30 minutes. The nurses came in a few times to check on my temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels. They also explained how to fill out the vaccine diary with any symptoms I noticed, and how to contact Seha if I faced any breathing difficulties or diarrhoea, for instance. In addition, I was given some snacks.
Once time passed, I went home.
The next day – Day 1: I faced some swelling and tenderness around the injection site, but I had no other symptoms. I reported on the teleconsultation, but the discomfort dissipated on its own.
And then I asked for my vaccination ebook back on the eighth day.
The verdict: the total procedure was very easy and smooth, and there were many other people who attended the procedure.
My circle of relatives was worried at first when I told them I would volunteer for the tests. But now, seeing that I’m okay, they’re comfortable with the idea.
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