ISTANBUL: Turkey began final Phase III trials of an experimental Chinese coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, Turkish media reported.
The vaccine will be administered to between 1,200-1,300 health workers over 10 days and a second dose will be given 14 days after the first, broadcasters CNN Turk and Haberturk said.
The results of the trial will be sent the World Health Organization (WHO).
The vaccine candidate will later be administered to volunteers with chronic diseases, with the aim of vaccinating 13,000 people, the broadcasters said.
The health ministry did not comment on the reports.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca is due to hold a news conference later in the day.
Koca announced last week that Phase III work had started on the Chinese vaccine candidate, as well as another developed by Pfizer. Russia’s application to conduct Phase III trials in Turkey for its experimental vaccine was being evaluated and a decision would likely be made this week, he said.
China is administering experimental coronavirus vaccines to tens of thousands of its citizens, attracting international interest, despite experts’ concerns over the safety of drugs that have not completed standard testing.
China launched a vaccine emergency use program in July, offering three experimental shots developed by a unit of state pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and US-listed Sinovac Biotech.
A fourth coronavirus vaccine being developed by CanSino Biologics was approved for use by the Chinese military in June.
Haberturk said the vaccine candidate being trialled in Turkey was developed by Sinovac.
Turkey begins Phase III trials of Chinese coronavirus vaccine
https://arab.news/p8vx9
Turkey begins Phase III trials of Chinese coronavirus vaccine
- The vaccine will be administered to between 1,200-1,300 health workers over 10 days
- A second dose will be given 14 days after the first
Syrian authorities repair Deir Ezzor airport runway to prepare for resuming flights
- Airport has been out of service for more than a decade because of civil war
LONDON: Syrian authorities are repairing key infrastructure at Deir Ezzor Civil Airport ahead of flights being resumed. Government forces have been in control of northeastern Syria since January.
Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport announced on Monday that technical and engineering teams are repairing the runway, essential facilities, and rebuilding the airport’s perimeter fence to meet international safety and security standards.
The airport has been out of service for more than a decade due to the civil war in the country, which damaged infrastructure, including several bridges in northeastern Syria, where towns are next to the Euphrates River.
The Syrian government regained control over the region from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces through an agreement in January that established a ceasefire and outlined a phased integration of military and administrative structures.
On Sunday, Syrian authorities took over security responsibilities at Qamishli airport in Hasaka Province, northeastern Syria, as part of the agreement with the SDF.
