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:

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives the Sinopharm vaccine to protect against Covid-19 on November 3, 2020. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak receives the first of two shots of a vaccine that was trialled in the UAE. Wam

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Mansoor

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, gets the Sinopharm jab.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, receives the Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, October 31. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. Wam

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, takes the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, UAE Fatwa Council, is vaccinated with the Sinopharm innoculation on January 4, 2021. Wam

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed, chair of Abu Dhabi's Executive Office, takes the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office

The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, receives the Sinopharm vaccine.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives a thumbs up as he is vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association, receives the Covid-19 vaccine.

Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, director general of Dubai's State Security Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Amer Sharif, head of Dubai's Covid-10 Command and Control Centre, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, takes the first dose of Covid-19 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.