French Ambassador To the UAE Receives Latest Update on COVID-19 Vaccine From SEHA

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, (SEHA), the UAE’s largest public healthcare network, hosted France’s Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Xavier Chatel to showcase the success of the third phase of the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

French Ambassador Chatel was welcomed by Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Acting Group Chief Operations Officer, SEHA, Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Group Chief Operations Officer, and Dr. Nawal Ahmed Mohamed Al-Kaabi, Chief Medical Officer at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, the UAE’s  Principal Investigator for Phase III Trials COVID-19 Vaccine, and Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Clinical Management Committee. He was accompanied by Sabine Sciortino, First Counsellor, Anne Douaire-Banny, Deputy Cultural Counsellor, Hanan El Chami, Economic Attachée, and Célia Darakdjian, Press Attachée. The delegation received a briefing on the processes followed in conducting the third phase of the clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE, and its safe and effective distribution.

As part of the visit, the French Ambassador and delegation toured SEHA’s specialized center for conducting the clinical trials at Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center (ADNEC), which is managed by the network’s expert medical practitioners. Developed by Sinopharm CNBG and G42 Healthcare, a subsidiary of G42 Group, the inactive vaccine’s clinical trials are conducted as a collaboration between the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and SEHA. The trials are aligned with the vision and commitment of the UAE’s leadership to effectively manage the pandemic and contribute to the global healthcare sector.

Dr. Nawal Ahmed Mohamed Al-Kaabi, Chief Medical Officer at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, the UAE’s  Principal Investigator for Phase III Trials COVID-19 Vaccine, and Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Clinical Management Committee said: “We are proud of the progress made in delivering a COVID-19 vaccine, which is eagerly awaited by the global community. During Ambassador’s Chatel’s visit, we discussed the strides made in administering the vaccine to frontline healthcare professionals. We are grateful to all our partners and the entire UAE community for their collaboration and role in advancing our ambitions towards fighting this global pandemic.”

Ambassador Xavier Chatel declared : “I want to warmly thank Seha for welcoming me and my team today. Dr. Nawal Ahmed Mohamed Al-Kaabi gave us very useful insights about the COVID-19 vaccination process in the UAE and its challenges. This issue is of great interest to my fellow citizens living in the UAE. I learned a lot  during this visit, and I am sure it will be also interesting for my authorities, as they are also preparing the future roll-out of vaccines.”

The clinical trials are part of a global effort to combat COVID-19 and are being overseen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention. The trials are aligned with the UAE government’s prominent role in international efforts to find a solution to this century’s greatest health challenge .