Parents with kids aged 3-17 can now avail of the free Sinopharm vaccine jabs in the UAE.
The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has officially approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for children following the successful trials held in Abu Dhabi.
“MoHAP announced the provision of Sinopharm vaccine for the age group 3 – 17 The decision comes after clinical trials and extensive evaluations and is based on the emergency use authorization and local evaluations which are in line with the approved regulations,” according to a tweet from the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA).
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MoHAP announced the provision of Sinopharm vaccine for the age group 3 – 17 The decision comes after clinical trials and extensive evaluations and is based on the emergency use authorization and local evaluations which are in line with the approved regulations.#TogetherWeRecover pic.twitter.com/4Y3VEMMW8V
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 2, 2021
Earlier, the UAE became the first country in the Middle East to conduct the vaccine trials for children, spearheaded by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi with over 900 participants aged 3 to 17 for what is now known as the Sinopharm immune bridge study.
Following full parental consent, all young volunteers were closely monitored and received care at every step of the process.
The immune bridge study implemented all applicable medical protocols in accordance with the highest international standards and practices. Once available, the study’s preliminary results will be announced and will support the planning process for the safe and healthy return of students to schools.
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Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi, Principal Investigator for Phase III Trials COVID-19 vaccine and Chief Medical Officer at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, stated that, “The enrollment registration for this study has been successful as we have attracted the desired number of children within a short period of time. I would like to thank everyone who took the initiative to register and participate in this study to support the country’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This reflects the public’s confidence and trust in the UAE’s long-term recovery plan and in the competence of the healthcare sector of the country.”
In addition, DoH praised the significant role played by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) in implementing the procedures and handling the medical protocols to ensure the objectives of this study were achieved.
