JERUSALEM: The state-run Israel Institute for Biological Research announced Sunday that researchers will begin human testing on its coronavirus vaccine next week.
The institute said clinical tests on an initial group of 80 people would begin Nov. 1. The testing is to expand to a second phase of 960 people in December, with a third and final phase of 30,000 people next April or May depending on the results of the earlier phases.
“I believe in the abilities of our scientists and I am confident that we can produce a safe and effective vaccine,” said Dr. Shmuel Shapira, director of the institute.
He said the goal is to produce 15 million doses “for the benefit of the residents of the state of Israel and our close neighbors.” He did not elaborate.
The institute is run by the Defense Ministry. “This is a day of hope for the citizens of Israel,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
Over 40 coronavirus vaccine candidates are in clinical trials worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Israel, a country of about 9 million people, has reported over 300,000 cases of COVID-19 and nearly 2,400 deaths.
Israel to begin human trials of coronavirus vaccine
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Israel to begin human trials of coronavirus vaccine
- “This is a day of hope for the citizens of Israel,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz
France deploys jets over UAE to protect its military bases
PARIS: France has deployed Rafale fighter jets over the United Arab Emirates to protect its naval and air bases against Iranian attacks, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.
France has hundreds of navy, air force and army personnel based in the UAE. Its Rafale aircraft are stationed at Al-Dhafra base near Abu Dhabi.
“These Rafales and their pilots are mobilized to ensure the security of our facilities,” Barrot told broadcaster BFMTV in response to a question on French action in the UAE over the weekend to neutralize Iranian drones.
“They have carried out operations to secure the airspace above our bases.”
On Sunday, “a hangar at a French base in the United Arab Emirates was hit by a drone,” Barrot said.
“Exchanges are multiplying to determine both how the country can defend itself against future attacks and how France can protect its interests there,” he added.
France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier was however in the North Atlantic, as part of a previously planned multinational exercise, Barrot said, after he was asked if it had been sent to the Mediterranean.
To the best of his knowledge, it had not changed course, he said.
The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on Saturday, killing Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has responded by targeting US allies in the Gulf region.
Debris from a drone interception caused a fire that was contained at an oil industry zone in the Fujairah emirate on Tuesday, authorities said.
In Abu Dhabi, a drone struck a fuel tank terminal on Monday, causing a fire though operations were not impacted.
Tech giant Amazon said late on Monday that two of its data centers in the UAE were “directly struck” by drones, disrupting cloud services in parts of the Middle East.
