Experts at Saudi forum to review vaccines’ progress

JEDDAH: The 11th KAIMRC Annual Forum for Medical Research, starting virtually on Wednesday, will discuss global challenges and prospects related to the development of vaccines for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

International experts and leading academics will attend the two-day global forum organized by the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC). It is structured to review all aspects of vaccine development and production in the context of the current pandemic, to ensure global participation from decision-makers, media outlets, health workers and the general public.

“The event is unique and significant, enabling the scientific community, health workers, governmental and nongovernmental institutions and the public to be informed regarding the progress of COVID-19 vaccines, and (to) discuss concerns and issues,” said Dr. Ahmed Al-Askar, president of the forum.
The event is organized by KAIMRC in cooperation with the health affairs department of the Ministry of National Guard, and King Saud University for Health Sciences.

KAIMRC aims to lead innovation and technological development in medical and health research in the Kingdom by transforming biomedical research and transferring basic research to tangible products.

The forum comes as part of programs and international conferences held under Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20. Those wishing to register and attend can log on to: www.globalcovid19vaccines.com.

Meanwhile, 348,510 people have now contracted COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, with 473 new cases confirmed on Tuesday. So far, 7,901 cases remain active, with 749 of them in critical condition.

Of the new cases, 87 percent were adults and 40 percent were women, while only 9 percent were children and 4 percent elderly people.

The highest number of cases was reported in Madinah, with 73, followed by Makkah with 45, Riyadh with 40, and Jeddah with 37.

In addition, 481 more patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 335,153.

The Ministry of Health reported 19 new COVID-19-related deaths on Tuesday. The death toll now stands at 5,456.

Saudi Arabia has so far conducted 8,151,353 polymerase chain reaction tests, with 58,930 carried out in the last 24 hours.