Results From First Human Trial Raise Hopes For a Vaccine Against COVID-19
A glimmer of hope sparked following the first results from human trials of a vaccine against the novel Coronavirus, after US firm's study saw positive results in a group of eight volunteers.
The hopeful results showed that each one of the volunteers produced an antibody response on a par with that seen in people who have had the disease.
Even though the results from this first-stage trial doesn't necessarily mean that the treatment will work, it is a sign of a breakthrough in a battle that shall hopefully come to an end soon.
This US study is run by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it showed that all eight volunteers made neutralizing antibodies which were tested in human cells in the lab and stopped the virus from replicating.
The higher the vaccine dose, the more antibodies the volunteer produced.
This isn't the first trial for a vaccine that should give you hope, as the US National Institutes of Health Moderna is also planning to start a mid-stage study soon and then begin a late-stage trial in July.
The company also hopes to have the vaccine ready by fall for emergency cases, a timeline with no precedent in the history of vaccine development.
Until we hear more from these trials, we have got to stay hopeful and most importantly stay home for our own safety as well as others'.
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Egypt has jumped 10 places in just a year in the 2020 Global Knowledge Index (GKI), according to three infographics released by the Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center.
The index, which gets issued every year by the United Nations Development Programme and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, shows that Egypt has moved from the 82nd place to the 72nd in only one year.
The rankings are based on a survey done on the knowledge performance of 138 countries in 7 areas and 199 indicators. Egypt has shown great advancement in all areas, it moves 23 ranks up in the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and 11 ranks up in Pre-University Education.
The index also highlighted Egypt's points of strength in education sector, which included higher enrollment in universities and a significant decline in out-of-school children. There's also an increase in the number of students enrolling in vocational and technical schools.
Switzerland, the United States, and Finland came on top of the 2020 index.
Egypt's Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has announced that Egypt is planning on building its very first train factory in Port Said.
The factory will build EMUs, DMUs and monorail trains in East Port Said industrial zone.
The Ministry made the announcement on the 16th of September in a meeting attended between the minister of planning and economic development, Dr Hala El-Said, transport minister Major General Kamel El-Wazir and chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority, Mr Yahia Zaki.
The meeting went over the project's implementation plan and the possible outputs of the factory.
Egyptian Railways Services and Maintenance Company (Ermas) will most probably run the new plant in cooperation with the private sector including a number of international companies, such as the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and Egypt's Sovereign Fund.
According to El-Waziri, the factory is seen as part of a localizing initiative that aims at producing railway equipment locally, in order to meet the rising demand both domestically and in Africa and on the Arabian peninsula.
The factory will help boost the Egyptian economy, in addition to generating hard currency and providing job opportunities.
AstraZeneca announced today the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine and it turned out to be around 90% effective with no serious side effects!
According to data from the late-stage trials in Britain and Brazil, the vaccine, which is developed by Oxford University, has shown 90% effectiveness after being administered as a a half dose followed by a full dose at least one month apart.
"This vaccine's efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency," Pascal Soriot, Astra's chief executive, said in a statement.
British Prime minister Boris Johnson said it was "incredibly exciting news the Oxford vaccine has proved so effective in trials."
The next step now is for the company to start preparing regulatory submission of the data to authorities across the world that have a framework in place for conditional or early approval.
It will also seek an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed up availability in countries with low income. In parallel, the full analysis of the interim results is being submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
With both Oxford's and Pfizer's vaccines, we can be hopeful that the new year will come bearing good news!