Moroccan scientists have concerns about the Chinese vaccine.

Internationally based Moroccan scientists have communicated their concerns about the suggestion that the Chinese Covid vaccine may be used in Morocco. The scientists based in Brussels have written to the Moroccan Minister of Health

For the attention of Professor Khalid Ait-TALEB Minister of Health Subject: Covid-19 vaccine projected in Morocco: Scientific, epidemiological and clinical questions. 

Mr. Minister, Excellency, 

We are a group of international experts of Moroccan origin in the fields of vaccine development, immunology, epidemiology, virology and various disciplines of medicine, forming an integral part of the C3M International Organization. We are following the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in Morocco and we wish to express our congratulations to you on your excellent management of this health crisis. 

We learned through the media of the next launch of the mass vaccination of Moroccan citizens. One of the candidate vaccines appears to be the inactivated vaccine developed by the Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology, part of the Chinese state holding company known as Sinopharm (China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.). 

Our attention was drawn to a series of legitimate scientific questions concerning this vaccine, the demonstrations of its safety and efficacy and its suitability in relation to the strains currently circulating in Morocco. We therefore allow ourselves to get back to you on these questions. We would like to point out that our goal is to help inform citizens and strengthen their confidence in the vaccine through evidence-based communication, supported by robust clinical data. We are ready to work with your scientific committee in order to provide the answers to our modest contribution.

 1. Although the virus has remained relatively stable at the genetic level, more or less important mutations have been detected including in the coding region for the surface protein, S, the main target of neutralizing antibodies. It would be important to ensure that the vaccine strain used in the Sinopharm vaccine (collected in China very soon after the outbreak was declared) is protective against strains circulating in Morocco. 

2. In order to build citizens' confidence in the vaccine, it is important that Sinopharm officially communicates the results of phase III, like other pharmaceutical companies. This vaccine has apparently been used by soldiers in China; It would be appropriate to access this data. C3M - Medical Skills for Moroccans of the World - 90, avenue du Bois de la Cambre 1050 Brussels Belgium www.C3M.ma Correspondence: Dr. Samir KADDAR 32497689099 samirkaddar@gmail.com; samir.kaddar@C3M.ma 

 3. The history of vaccine development teaches us that even for technologies considered to be mastered, one is never immune to surprises. Indeed, the RSV vaccine in the 90s turned into a health disaster in the USA (2 children died due to the vaccine) for Reasons little known but the process of inactivation or adsorption on the aluminum-based adjuvant has been suspected. https://www.nature.com/news/2008/081212/full/news.2008.1302.html 

4. According to the information available to us, the clinical trial in Morocco included around 600 volunteers, which seems statistically insufficient to allow calculation of the efficacy in terms of protection against the disease. Moreover, during your interview by the media Alyoum-24, it seemed to us that you intend to consider the good immunogenicity (neutralizing antibodies induced on Moroccan volunteers) of the vaccine as sufficient to approve the said vaccine in Morocco? If this were the case, we would like to initiate a discussion with the committee in order to warn them of the risks and dangers of such an approach. 

5. We believe that a pharmacovigilance plan put in place in Morocco as in other countries is crucial to detect long-term side effects, especially given the novelty of this virus. Can you tell us about this plan. We are prepared to work with the committee to list the potential effects and propose approaches to detect them. Based on these achievements, we reaffirm our sincere commitment to collaborate with your scientific department. 

We thank you in advance for your receptiveness and responses and remain available for a scientific discussion with you and with the members of the scientific committee piloting this Morocco vaccine. We will be honored to help enrich the debate around this vaccine. Pending your response, please accept, Mr. Minister, the expression of our highest consideration.

Président

Dr. Samir KADDAR 

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