Egypt’s Health and Population Minister Hala Zayed has taken the COVID-19 vaccine, among the volunteers for the third phase of clinical trials. She took the vaccine at VACSERA, the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccine and the oldest manufacturer of vaccines in Africa and the Middle East.
Earlier this month, Dr Zayed had announced the initiation in Egypt of the 3rd phase of clinical trials on two coronavirus vaccines. The trials come within integral cooperation among Egypt, China, and the Abu Dhabi-based G42 Healthcare on research studies to come up with COVID-19 vaccines and, once found to be safe and effective, to start production. The Chinese partner, according to Dr Zayed, is “a leading Chinese company in the field of vaccine manufacturing”.
Targeting 45,000 persons from all over the world, Dr Zayed noted, the clinical trials come under the rubric “For the sake of humanity” and are carried out by the volunteers from four Arab countries: Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt. Participant volunteers receive two doses of vaccine, three weeks in between. They should then be monitored for one year.
The vaccine trials, as explained by Dr Zayed, have successfully passed the preclinical phase carried out on laboratory animals, as well as the first and second phases on increasing numbers of healthy volunteers to check for safety, effectiveness, and optimal dose of the drug. So far, she said, the results have shown promise.
The trials were conducted on 40,000 persons outside Egypt.
The third phase, according to Dr Zayed, is the one in which 6000 Egyptians are taking part. She called on Egyptians to participate in the clinical trials, in order for Egypt to be able to produce the vaccine as soon as its effectiveness is proved. She said that a national committee has been formed to supervise the clinical research. The committee is chaired by Dr Muhammad Hassany, Aide to the Health Minister; and includes members from the Health Ministry, the Egyptian Armed Forces Health Services, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Justice, and the Egyptian Drug Authority. She confirmed that Egypt has been managing the crisis of coronavirus according to the WHO standards and guidance from international organisations. She also said that a production line at VACSERA was standing in preparation to produce a COVID-19 vaccine once it is approved.
The Ministry of Health has set up a website [www.covactrial.mohp.gov] for volunteers to register their personal and health data. They head to a centre where they are received by specialists who advise them about the details of the trials and all the hazards involved. If they agree, they sign a document to that effect.
Participants then undergo thorough medical examinations. Blood samples are taken to check their immune systems, and PCR tests are made to ensure there was no previous infection with COVID-19. After that, the participant may be given the first dose of the vaccine.
According to the Ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed, Dr Zayed underwent precisely the same procedure. As soon as she arrived at the headquarters of VACSERA to participate in the clinical trials, her temperature was checked before admittance into the building assigned for the COVID-19 vaccine studies. The Minister’s personal data was recorded at the registration office where she was handed a file free of charge for her participation in the clinical trials.
The Minister, Mr Megahed said, was informed of all the details entailed with her participation in the clinical trials by members of the medical staff involved, including the doses and follow up procedures. Dr Zayed’s vital signs and general health condition were checked before she signed her approval to take part in the clinical trials. She then received her identification code, Mr Megahed said, pointing out that all participants in the clinical trial receive a secret code used by the committee. The Minister then underwent blood and pcr tests, then she was handed a follow up card where she is required to note any remarks or symptoms that she develops during the 12 months that follow her administration of the first dose of the vaccine. Finally, in the vaccine room, Dr Zayed was injected with the vaccine.
At VACSERA, Dr Zayed visited the awareness campaign teams that work on encouraging people to participate in the clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Watani International
29 September 2020