Third Coronavirus Vaccine Enters the Final Phase
A Chinese-made vaccine against the coronavirus has entered the final stage of testing in Brazil, where volunteers received the first doses. The vaccine, developed by private Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech, became the third in the world to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans - the last step before regulatory approval.
Around 9,000 health workers across six Brazilian states will receive the vaccine, known as CoronaVac, in two doses over the next three months under the study. The initial results are expected in three months.
The Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) approved the last stage trial of the vaccine by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech Ltd as Dhaka-based International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDR'B) submitted a research protocol, seeking to carry out the study.
"Our National Research Ethics Committee (of BMRC) has approved phase-3 clinical trial of Sinovac's (prospective) COVID-19 vaccine," BMRC director Mahmood-Uz-Jahan said.
The BMRC official said the regulator kept in consideration "Bangladesh's benefit" alongside prospect and safety issues of the vaccine, studying the advancement of the Sinovac's research in China, while reviewing the ICDDR'B proposal.
"We have also reviewed the headway of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine development process. We have found they made potential advancements though the trial is still underway in China," he said.
Sinovac last month said it expected to complete the last phase of its prospective COVID-19 vaccine before November claiming the inoculate proved "safe and effective" on human so far.
Brazil is the second-hardest-hit country in the coronavirus pandemic, after the United States.
