RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced on Saturday the implementation of phase III efficacy trials of a vaccine against the coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. The trials will be conducted within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and China that includes the implementation of clinical trials. The Ministry of Health indicated that an action plan is being developed to implement the phase III of the clinical trial of the vaccine against coronavirus in cooperation with the Chinese company CanSino, which has developed a vaccine against the virus and has carried out first and second phases trials in China. The Ministry stated that the third phase will include multi-center clinical studies in different countries and on large numbers of people after the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine has been confirmed following the first and second phases trials. The study, which will be implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is set to target at least 5,000 healthy volunteers who are over the age of 18. The Ministry of Health pointed out that work is currently under way to prepare screening and testing centers while also making preparations to start the procedures in three main cities — namely Riyadh, Dammam and Makkah. This step comes as a continuation of the studies and research being conducted by the Ministry of Health in this area, as it, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), recently conducted an advanced multi-center clinical study in seven hospitals inside the Kingdom to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Ministry confirmed its continuous efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for an effective vaccine with unlimited support from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince, which has spared no effort to preserve the health and safety of its citizens and residents.