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2020.12.12 02:29 GMT+8

'Vaccine collaboration critical in fighting COVID-19,' says WHO

Updated 2020.12.12 02:29 GMT+8
CGTN

 

Vaccine collaboration is critical in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the World Health Organization's Margaret Harris. 

This comes after UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca revealed on Friday it would look into combining its own COVID-19 vaccine with Russia's Sputnik V, in the hope it could boost efficacy.

Speaking to CGTN Europe, Harris welcomed the news: "This kind of collaboration, this kind of solidarity is what's going to get us out of trouble.

"Transparency, the sharing of data and results is exactly how we're going to use the science in solidarity to achieve real solutions."

 

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Meanwhile, storing vaccines at low temperatures could prove to be a "logistical challenge" for many nations across the world. But it has been done before for other vaccines such as the Ebola inoculation, so can be done again, Harris said. 

Several vaccines, including the Sputnik and Pfizer/BioNTech jabs, need to be stored at sub-zero temperatures. 

The World Health Organization spokesperson also hailed the speed at which the adverse reactions in three people who had the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were discovered and said "that must continue across the world."

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