Virtual meeting with scientists from the United Arab Emirates on the use of Sinopharm in children and adolescents | This country has allowed the use of the Chinese vaccine in people aged 3 to 17 years

The Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, with the presidential adviser Cecilia Nicolini, maintained this Tuesday a virtual meeting with researchers and referents in the field of medical regulation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), country which authorized the emergency use of Sinopharm vaccine against covid-19 in persons aged 3 to 17 years.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said the decision to approve the Chinese laboratory vaccine for children and adolescents was based on the results of clinical trials – carried out in June with 900 volunteers, to which the two doses were applied at an interval of at least 21 days – which were positive and similar to those of adults, both in terms of safety and immunogenicity.

Vizzotti underlined “the importance of these studies for the country and the world” and researchers invited to present the study and the results which motivated the approval, before representatives of the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (Anmat) and the National Vaccination Commission (CoNaIn).

“Although children and adolescents generally have a mild form of covid-19 disease, it is essential to move forward in your personal protection which will translate into an indirect benefit in older populations who have a higher risk of complications and death ”, explained the Minister.

In addition, he stressed the importance of continuing to assess strategies that have a positive impact on schooling. He also pointed out the possibilities of collaboration with the United Arab Emirates to generate evidence in the age range of 3 to 17 years.

The meeting took place in the presence of the research director and head of the G42 Healthcare Vaccine project, Walid Zaher; the head of international strategic partnerships of G42 Healthcare, Obaid Al Zaabi; and the head of regulatory affairs of the G42 Life Science Cluster, Maimoona Firdous.

The Under-Secretary for Health Strategies, Juan Manuel Castelli, and Argentina’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Jorge Agustín Molina Arambarri, were also present at the meeting.