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King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC) organized the 11th Annual Forum for Medical Research, dedicating its latest edition to “COVID-19 Vaccines: Global Challenges & Prospects.” Held virtually, the forum brought together leading scientists, healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, regulators and humanitarian workers to share findings and discuss vaccine development.
The COVID-19 pandemic kickstarted global research and development (R&D) efforts in collaboration with industry, science and funding stakeholders to ensure accelerated, safe vaccine development.
Saudi-led initiatives and collaborative efforts across the Kingdom and with international entities have cemented the nation’s role in vaccine research.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen researchers engage with governments and inform science-driven policies. This experience has shown how countries, backed by scientific research and expertise, can be better prepared for future global outbreaks.
As vaccines are rolled out, governments will face a number of hurdles in prioritising vaccine dissemination and availability. The global community will need to come up with strategies for effective distribution and find ways to guarantee that the vaccine will reach low-income populations and countries. Meanwhile, the biggest challenge may be combating the disinformation surrounding vaccinations.