UAE approves China's Sinopharm vaccine for use after 86% efficacy results

Ministry of Health officially registers vaccine after independent analysis of Phase 3 trials involving 31,000 volunteers

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 UAE has officially registered China's Sinopharm vaccine for use after Phase 3 trials found it was 86 per cent effective against coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday said it had approved a request from the Chinese drug maker "in a major step towards combating the global pandemic".

An analysis by the ministry and Department of Health Abu Dhabi also showed the vaccine to have 99 per cent "seroconversion rate", which relates to how antibodies are built up, and 100 per cent effectiveness in "preventing moderate and severe cases of the disease".

"Furthermore, the analysis shows no serious safety concerns", it added.

The official registration leads the way to comprehensively protecting the population and responsibly opening the economy

The Sinopharm vaccine was widely trialled in the UAE in the summer in a campaign involving 31,000 people.

It was created by the research group Beijing Institute of Biological Products and Sinopharm, one of China's biggest drug makers.

It was granted emergency use status in the UAE in September and has since been given to frontline medical workers, government health officials, emergency service personnel, and a number of Cabinet ministers including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

Officials said they had already begun a post-authorisation safety and efficacy study to confirm what was found in the Phase 3 trial.

"These ongoing studies show similar safety and efficacy profiles as the interim analysis", a statement added.

The ministry said the official registration of the Sinopharm vaccine "leads the way to comprehensively protecting the population and responsibly opening the economy".

Sinopharm has yet to officially release its Phase 3 findings and the figures published by the UAE on Wednesday are the first indicator of the vaccine's effectiveness.

An efficacy of 86 per cent compares favourably to the four vaccines whose Phase 3 results have been published: the US-German made Pfizer/BioNTech at 95 per cent, US-made Moderna at 94 per cent, Britian's Oxford/AstraZeneca at 70 per cent and Russia's Sputnik V at 95 per cent (the latter is yet to be independently verified).

Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which require super-cold storage, Sinopharm’s can be stored in regular refrigerators. This makes them easier to transport over long distances and will be attractive to governments in the developing world. Morocco has already ordered 10 million doses from Sinopharm.

Phase 3 trials are ongoing in Egypt, Bahrain, Peru and Argentina.

Abu Dhabi vaccine roll-out

From this week, the vaccine is being offered on a voluntary basis in Abu Dhabi health centres and clinics run by the capital's public hospital group Seha.

Details of a nationwide roll-out are yet to be announced.

Anyone calling Seha’s free customer service number on 80050 hears a pre-recorded message saying, “dear customer, we would like to inform you that the Covid-19 vaccine is available in Seha primary healthcare centres,” inviting them to book an appointment.

Residents receive one vaccine shot, followed by a second three weeks later.

In the weeks following the second shot, they are tested for antibodies to determine if they are protected against Covid-19.

Increase in public confidence 

Dr Madhumita Kumar, head of infection control at Aster Hospitals in Dubai, which handled dozens of seriously ill Covid-19 patients at the height of the pandemic, said public confidence would rise following the release of the findings.

“An effective and safe vaccine is the only way the world can confidently go back to pre-covid times," she said.

“We now believe the Sinopharm vaccine appears safe. How effective this vaccine really is depends on more transparent release of data of the studies done.

“This will increase the confidence of the public to come forward and take the vaccine. And only if everyone gets vaccinated can we actually control this pandemic."

But until the population is vaccinated, she urged the public to continue to be cautious and follow the rules.

"This is definitely significant for the UAE. However, we should continue using masks and practice social distancing and personal hygiene."

'New year is coming with new hope'

Vaccine trial volunteer Father Darick D’Souza, from St Joseph's Church in Abu Dhabi, said Wednesday's news marked a turning point in the fight against the outbreak here.

“This is the hope for the normal to come back," said Fr D'Souza, 41, who received two shots in October and November during the trials and felt no side effects.

"It’s a positive sign. If vaccination begins, the new year is coming with new hope.

“This is the need of the hour. If the vaccine has been passed for use, then people should not hesitate to take it if we want to come back to normal. We have to beat the virus.”

UAE Phase 3 vaccine trial at Adnec - in pictures

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