Saudi Arabia's SFDA approves use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Logo of Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)

Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) gave the green light for the use of Moderna COVID -19 vaccine mRNA-1273.

In a statement, the authority said it reviewed and evaluated the registration files, including the safety and effectiveness data, which reflect the pre-clinical and clinical experiences.

SFDA indicated that it held meetings with local and international experts and scientists to study the submitted data. It also held a meeting with the company's representative to answer its inquiries.

Accordingly, the concerned health authorities will start the import procedures as per the relevant standards and requirements, noting that it will analyze samples from each incoming shipment of the vaccine before using it to ensure its quality.

Moderna is the fourth shot that has been authorized for use in the Kingdom following earlier approvals for the AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Astra Industrial Group said that the agreement signed between its fully-owned subsidiary, Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Co. and Moderna, to commercialize the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and future variant-specific booster candidates in Saudi Arabia, is valid for three renewable years upon consent of both parties, Argaam earlier reported.