Dr Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, has announced that a third stage study of a possible vaccine against COVID-19 has been approved by the Ethics Committee Scientific research in Abu Dhabi and this is indeed heartening news.

At a time when the world is struggling to cope with the massive crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, what can be more pleasing to hear than this achievement by the UAE?

The approval paves the way for the start of third stage clinical trials which will ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine on a larger segment of individuals.

The third stage clinical trials for a possible vaccine includes conducting a research study on two types of vaccinations with the participation of more than 15,000 volunteers.

The minister has made it clear that the best scientific standards will be adopted when conducting the medical studies and noted that the success of this stage could lead to the start of the manufacturing stage.

Al Owais has also announced that the specialised medical institutions in the country have conducted more than four million medical examinations.

This is a splendid achievement considering that many countries are unable to carry out enough tests, which is a crucial aspect while dealing with the deadly pandemic.   

 The heroes of the first line of defence deserve a hearty salute for their valiant efforts to preserve the safety of society and ensure the health of everyone.

The UAE recently reiterated its commitment to strengthening international cooperation after assisting more than 1 million medical workers worldwide through the supply of over 1,000 tonnes of personal protective equipment, PPE, and medical and food aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, pointed out, “Since its very founding, the UAE has pursued bonds of friendly cooperation and solidarity with other countries, believing that nations must set aside their differences in favour of unity and the greater good of humankind. The milestone of assisting 1 million healthcare workers affirms the UAE’s commitment to extending a hand of cooperation to the world, regardless of the religion, race, or ideology of recipients.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE has been a leader in global humanitarian efforts to stem the virus’ spread.

As the most active provider of foreign COVID-19 assistance in the world, the UAE has ensured that the geographical breadth of its aid knows no filters of race or religion, providing assistance in times of need to 70 countries, including China, Italy, the United Kingdom, Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, Russia, Yemen, and Afghanistan, among others.

The world’s largest humanitarian hub at Dubai’s International Humanitarian City is driving the COVID-19 response, with around 80 per cent of World Health Organisation-procured supplies transiting through the area.

Capitalising on the UAE’s geographic positioning and excellent logistics infrastructure, DIHC has served as a critical platform of assistance.

On May 4, the UAE, in partnership with the UN World Food Programme, WFP, launched an international air bridge operation to provide a lifeline of essential health and humanitarian supplies to nations grappling with the impact of COVID-19.

The UAE has also shared genomic sequencing and mutation data on various global databases, including the open-source COVID-19 genome database Nexstrain, to help scientists worldwide trace the spread of outbreaks.

Way to go, UAE.