CAPE TOWN- Over the weekend global Covid-19 cases topped 9 million and at the same time Chinese scientists started a second phase human trial for a possible Covid-19 vaccine.
The trial is being carried out at the Institute of Medical Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Researchers will determine the shot's dose and continue to evaluate whether the potential vaccine can safely trigger immune responses in healthy people.
Vaccines work by exposing the body and immune system to parts of a virus so it can safely develop an immune response and learn how to protect your body against that germ.
Reports from around the world suggest that dozens of potential coronavirus vaccines are in development, as the World Health Organization warns that the pandemic is accelerating and "the world is in a new and dangerous phase".
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None of the other vaccine trials have passed large-scale, late-stage phase 3 clinical trials, which is a necessary step before getting regulatory approval for sale.
Following an ongoing phase-1 study that recruited around 200 participants since May, the Chinese institute said it expects to use a plant dedicated to producing a vaccine this year to prepare for China's future vaccine supplies.