UAE Phase III trials of Russian Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, begins in Abu Dhabi

Volunteers in Abu Dhabi have begun taking part in the Phase III trials of the Russian adenovirus-based Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V.

The trials, which are being conducted by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) will initially be carried out on 500 volunteers.

Sputnik V was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

The vaccine is being administered to healthy adults from multiple nationalities over the age of 18 who are living in Abu Dhabi, and have neither been previously infected with virus, nor have have they participated in any other Covid-19 vaccination trial.

Also, the volunteers are required to have not suffered any communicable or severe respiratory diseases for at least 14 days.

The vaccine will be administered in two doses, delivered 20 days apart, and will be monitored through regular visits and teleconsultations for 180 days after taking the vaccine.

Trials are being undertaken at the Tawam Hospital in Al Ain under the clinical supervision of Consultant Physician (Infectious Diseases) Dr. Ahmed Al Hammadi.

It is being rolled out under the joint supervision of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), with medical protocols handled by Abu Dhabi’s public health provider, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA.

The Sputnik V testing programme is being conducted under the Vaccine for Victory campaign and residents can register to volunteer for it at www.v4v.ae.

Read: Abu Dhabi seeks volunteers for phase III trials of Russian Covid-19 vaccine

These will be contacted to arrange an eligibility screening before beginning the trials.

Results from the first two phases of the trial of the Sputnik V vaccine, published in medical journal The Lancet, showed a stable humoral and cellular immune response had been achieved among volunteers, with no serious adverse events recorded.

The Phase III clinical trials taking place in the UAE form part of the trials that are also taking place in Russia and other countries around the world.

The UAE officially registered the Sinopharm and Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for use last month.