Saudi Arabia signs MoU with Pfizer, AstraZeneca to promote investment in health sector

In order to promote investment in its health sector, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday signed an agreement with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Apart from se two pharmaceutical giants, country has also signed an agreement with biotechlogy companies, reported Xinhua. According to news ncy, agreements were signed during Riyh Global Medical Biotechlogy Summit 2021. ministry, in partnership with Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, in order to explore opportunities to establish world-class clinical research centres in kingdom, re statement released by Ministry after mega event. 

"This recent development would also enhance its ambition to provide best and most invative pharmaceutical products to patients in Kingdom." According to minister of investment, Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, recent agreement between Land of Two Holy Mosques and British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechlogy company will furr boost ir strategic partnership.  Apart from AstraZeneca, media report said that country has also signed an MoU with King Abdullah International Medical Research Center at Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs and Saudi Ministry of Industry.

Recently Saudi Arabia approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

Recently, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sipharm and Sivac COVID-19 vaccines were ded to Saudi Arabia's list of approved vaccines, bringing total number to six. According to  Saudi Gazette, Saudi Ministry of Health has approved six vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Sipharm, and Sivac. According to ministry, any or vaccines that receive approval will be publicised through proper channels approved by Ministry of Health and Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) at an appropriate time.

Two doses of separate vaccines, on or hand, can be ministered because international health studies have shown that y are both safe and efficacious. second dose should be taken at least three weeks following first. Saudi Arabia has also relaxed COVID-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated citizens. It is only applicable to people who have a valid residency permit (Iqama) and left Kingdom on an exit and re-entry visa after receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccination from Saudi Arabia, according to  Saudi Gazette.

Im: AP