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Spimaco Addwaeih to Provide COVID Vaccine for Saudi Arabia in Cooperation with Germany’s CureVac

SPIMACO ADDWAEIH signs an MoU with CureVac to provide a vaccine for the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
SPIMACO ADDWAEIH signs an MoU with CureVac to provide a vaccine for the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Spimaco Addwaeih to Provide COVID Vaccine for Saudi Arabia in Cooperation with Germany’s CureVac

SPIMACO ADDWAEIH signs an MoU with CureVac to provide a vaccine for the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
SPIMACO ADDWAEIH signs an MoU with CureVac to provide a vaccine for the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries and Medical supplies Company (SPIMACO ADDWAEIH) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the German company CureVac, a leading company in biomedical researches, to provide a vaccine for the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia.

According to the agreement, SPIMACO ADDWAEIH will import and distribute the vaccine in the Kingdom, as well as representing before the government authorities in the registration of the vaccine and to obtain the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Health and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority for all regulatory requirements relating to the sale, distribution and use of the vaccine.

SPIMACO ADDWAEIH may expand the project to include Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

Dr. Mohammed Al Sultan, CEO SPIMACO ADDWAEIH, confirmed that this memo is in line with the efforts exerted by the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to confront the pandemic and to continue in achieving the company strategy toward achieving drug security in the Kingdom.

Al Sultan said CureVac conducted successful Phase I dose finding clinical trials and reached promising results to proceed to a phase IIb/III clinical trial, aiming to submit the registration file European Medicines Agency (EMA) during the first quarter of 2021 according to the plan set by the company. The vaccine is characterized by its routine storage conditions of 2-8 degrees Celsius

Since the beginning of the pandemic in the Kingdom, SPIMACO ADDWAEIH has worked to maintain the Kingdom’s drug security and the company has increased its production capacity to cover the high demand in the local market.

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Mina Camp Opens for Hajj Pilgrims ahead of Day of Arafat

A view of the Mina camp. (SPA)
A view of the Mina camp. (SPA)
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Mina Camp Opens for Hajj Pilgrims ahead of Day of Arafat

A view of the Mina camp. (SPA)
A view of the Mina camp. (SPA)

Pilgrims began streaming into the valley of Mina early Tuesday to mark the beginning of the Hajj pilgrimage, spending the Day of Tarwiyah on Wednesday in line with the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed.

White tents have been prepared to receive the faithful, as Saudi authorities roll out a wide range of services to ensure pilgrims can perform their rituals safely and smoothly.

Crowds will swell further on Thursday, when some 2.5 million worshippers are expected to converge on Mount Arafat – the pinnacle of the Hajj – for the most sacred rite of the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims will listen to the Day of Arafat sermon and perform shortened noon and afternoon prayers before departing at sunset.

Strict measures

The Ministry of Interior reminded the public that access to the holy sites is restricted to those with official Hajj permits. Security forces, backed by aerial surveillance, are deployed across main highways, mountain paths, and rural roads to intercept unauthorized entrants and enforce regulations.

Authorities warned that transporting pilgrims without permits is a punishable offense. Entry points into Makkah and the holy sites are tightly monitored to prevent violations, with penalties in place for anyone attempting to bypass security measures.

Safety protocols in place

Regulations also prohibit raising political or sectarian flags and chanting slogans within the holy sites. Pilgrims are instructed not to block walkways or sit along designated pedestrian routes.

Worshippers are urged to carry personal identification, wear face masks within the Grand Mosque and holy sites, and avoid bringing sharp objects, oversized luggage, or extra garments such as blankets and spare Ihram clothes into the Haram.

Saudi Arabia, which has ramped up preparations to host one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, says these measures are vital to ensure the safety, security, and spiritual focus of the Hajj.

Tightened regulations

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, underscored the importance of compliance with official guidelines for movement within the holy sites, stressing that such measures are crucial to safeguarding pilgrims and ensuring a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience.

“This year, there will be strict enforcement to verify that every pilgrim holds a valid Hajj permit,” Al-Rabiah said, underscoring efforts to boost the overall quality and safety of the pilgrimage.

He also emphasized the significance of the Nusuk card, calling it a key tool in organizing pilgrim movements. “Anyone without the card will not be allowed entry into the Grand Mosque, the holy sites, or access to transportation,” he stressed.

Health conditions ‘reassuring’

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Ministry of Health spokesperson Eng. Khaled Al-Taleb announced that the overall health situation among pilgrims is stable and reassuring.

More than 50,000 medical and technical staff are deployed this season, supported by three mobile field hospitals and 71 emergency response stations. The ministry has also increased hospital bed capacity by 60% compared to last year, and has delivered over 98,000 healthcare services so far.