Photo: Turkish Ministry of Health. Fahrettin Koca, Turkish Minister of Health, holds meeting with Mikhail Murashko, Russian Minister of Health, regarding COVID-19 vaccine development
To tackle COVID-19 pandemic, Turkey and Russia have agreed to cooperate in the development of COVID-19 vaccine. The two countries will share data and carry out joint clinical trials.
On June 2, Turkish and Russian Ministers of Health, Fahrettin Koca and Mikhail Murashko, held a video conference. The two sides decided to join efforts to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 and cooperate on therapeutics development. Minister Koca briefed about the situation of Turkey, in that Turkey was able to reap benefits from the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 patients have shown a faster recovery. "I think the synergy created between the scientists of the two countries sharing the same geography is very valuable. I would like to emphasize once again that we are ready for exchanging experiences and cooperation on treatment and vaccine development,” said Koca.
Following the bilateral meeting, the Vaccination Science Board of the Turkish National Institutes of Health (TUSEB) and the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology of Russia (VECTOR) held an additional meeting. The meeting was chaired by the Emine Alp Me？e, Turkish Deputy Minister of Health. The two sides shared information about vaccine efforts and reemphasized the importance of cooperation. TUSEB and VECTOR agreed to sign a cooperation agreement in the field of healthcare, particularly in vaccine development, in a meeting planned to be held this week.
[Sources]
Daily Sabah. (2020, June 2). Turkey, Russia to start joint work to develop COVID-19 vaccine. Retrieved from https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-russia-to-start-joint-work-to-develop-covid-19-vaccine/news.
T.C. Saglik Bakanligi. (2020, June 5). Vaccination Science Board Holds First Meeting with Russia. Retrieved from https://www.saglik.gov.tr/EN,65882/vaccination-science-board-holds-first-meeting-with-russia.html.
T.C. Saglik Bakanligi. (2020, June 3). Minister Koca Meets Russian Counterpart, Murashko. Retrieved from https://www.saglik.gov.tr/EN,65856/minister-koca-meets-russian-counterpart-murashko.html.
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