EDA: WHO to Authorize Egyptian Vaccines in Month

Dr. Tamer Essam, the director of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), revealed that the World Health Organization will authorize Egyptian vaccines in 30 days, media agencies reported on Tuesday.

Essam expressed during his presence at the Egyptian House of Representatives that Egypt succeeded in sending medical aids to 22 countries during the pandemic.

He added that more EDA centers were established across Egypt and their number reached more than 38.

In the same context, Egypt didn’t see any crises related to medicines or medical devices recently; in addition, Egypt’s rank in the medicine industry has improved internationally.

Presidential Adviser for Health Affairs, Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, announced on Wednesday that Egypt may locally manufacture COVID-19 treatment pills developed by giant pharmaceutical company Merck in a matter of 45 days.

"Egypt has agreed with a company to start clinical trials for the drug and if it shows efficacy in treating coronavirus cases with mild symptoms and reducing hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and death rates, the state will [release it for public consumption]," Tag El-Din said in a phone interview with Sada El-Balad satellite channel.

The presidential adviser said Merck has permitted developing countries to produce its oral treatment, which received emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late November.