Hussa Al Mansoori, volunteer for the Emirati vaccine trial in the UAE, can’t wait to develop immunity to COVID-19.
As part of the 4Humanity project, he received a second dose of the vaccine on Sunday.
Apart from him, service sector workers have also queued up to get injections.
“I believe we will be able to defeat COVID-19 because more and more people are getting vaccines and proven successful in fighting this disease.
When I went in for the second dose, I saw a large group of foreign taxi drivers, restaurant workers, and salon staff at the center.
“It is very encouraging to see so many people, especially those who make contact with other people as workers in the service sector, are willing to support this initiative,” he said.
Talking about his experience of getting the second shot, Al Mansoori said the process was very smooth.
“The process takes about three hours, and it’s similar to when I got the first injection.
The only difference is that I don’t have to have a blood test before the vaccine is injected, ”he explained.
Al Mansoori said he was initially given a bracelet so he could be distinguished from the other trial volunteers.
The 4Humanity trial began in the UAE on July 16, when Abu Dhabi’s top health official became the first participant.
The deactivated vaccine itself was developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical giant, Sinopharm China National Biotec Group.
The vaccine has also safely and successfully produced COVID-19 antibodies in everyone who participated in Phase I and Phase II trials in China.
In the UAE, the trial was sponsored by Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company Group 42.
As well as being supervised by the DoH and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention.
All medical processes are carried out by the Abu Dhabi public health provider, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha).
More than 15,000 people have signed up to volunteer for trials across the UAE so far.
