The first shipment of Sotrovimab, the new anti-viral medication for COVID-19, is now available in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi is the first location in the world to receive the treatment.
On receiving the emergency authorisation approval of the drug by the USA Food and Drug Agency, the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and Rafed, the cold storage facility in Abu Dhabi, along with GlaxoSmithKline, a global pharmaceutical company, came to an agreement to receive the treatment.
Sotrovimab is a treatment that can be used to treat individuals aged 12 and above that are at the risk of showing severe COVID-19 issues.
According to studies, the medication can prevent hospitalisation by 85% when used early on to treat the patient and is also effective in all the variants of the virus.
The National Scientific Committee in the Ministry of Health and Prevention, as well as the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, have worked on protocols for the use of the medication on patients based on their eligibility and risk profile.
The first shipment was brought in by Etihad Cargo and will be stored and distributed by Rafed Distribution Center.
His Excellency Dr Jamal Mohamed Kaabi, Undersecretary for the Abu Dhabi Department of Health said, "Abu Dhabi continues in its efforts to maintain its number one city position globally in terms of resilience and safety in COVID-19 times. Through the non-ending support and guidance from our leadership, we continue in our daily preemptive efforts to search, assess and source through local and international collaboration, the best evidence-based treatment to our population in Abu Dhabi, UAE and beyond. This medicine is at the forefront of pharmaceutical advancement and is a powerful tool in our fight to end this pandemic. We look forward to implement the eligibility criteria for emergency use of Sotrovimab as part of Abu Dhabi's commitment to lead an all-encompassing COVID-19 response in prevention, treatment and care."