Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz has claimed that his country already has in hand an “excellent” vaccine against the Covid-19. While visiting the Israel Institute of Biological Research (IIBR) on Thursday, the defence minister said that the “vaccine will have to go through regulatory processes which are set to begin with human trials following the autumn holidays.
During the visit, Gantz was accompanied by the minister’s aide on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. They were briefed on the IIBR’s progress in developing a vaccine that can produce antibodies against the coronavirus.
Gantz instructed the institute to begin human trials after the autumn holidays, a press statement from the Defence Minister’s spokesperson’s unit said.
Prof. Shmuel Shapira, the head of the IIBR, said he was proud that the institute’s six months of research had shown results and produced “an excellent vaccine.”
He noted that there was now a long regulatory process to go through, but “we have the product in hand.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later spoke with Shapira via video, and said, “I am pleased to hear about the progress and I want to congratulate you on it. Continue on this path with the maximum speed that you deem scientifically sufficient. I directed that a vaccine be developed here in Israel out of great faith in our people and our abilities as a country.”
The prime minister added that he would now fast-track plans to build a vaccine-manufacturing facility in Israel.
In May, Israel announced that IIBR, mandated to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus COVID-19, had made a “significant breakthrough” by wrapping up the development phase of the antibody and moving to patent and mass produce the potential treatment.
IIBR was established in 1952 as part of the Israel Defence Forces’ Science Corps, and later became a civilian organisation. It is technically under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office, but works in close communication with the Defence Ministry.
The vaccine under development is on par in effectiveness with a vaccine being developed by US biotechnology company Moderna, according to the TV report.
In June, Israel signed a deal with Moderna for the potential purchase of its coronavirus vaccine if it proves effective.
Unlike vaccines developed abroad, the domestic vaccine will first be delivered to Israeli citizens. If successful, it was expected to provide protection against the disease with a single dose.
