Thursday, the UAE announced that it is set to trial the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine in children between the ages of three and 17. This comes in order to study their immune response.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said that the Department of Health Abu Dhabi approved the study and it will be conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

According to authorities, the trial will monitor the immune response to the vaccine in 900 youngsters of different nationalities.

Each child will participate with the full consent of their parents and be closely monitored, with their safety the most important concern of the study. Parents and children will be given details and support at every step of the process.

Nawal Al Kaabi, chairwoman of the National COVID-19 Clinical Management Committee, said the aim of the study is to ensure children can receive the vaccine safely.

She said "We want children and parents to understand every step of the process and also to know that we will be with them, supporting them, answering every question they may have, at any time.”

The UAE had earlier approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 12 and above.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE has confirmed 589,423 cases and 1,710 deaths.