China is on the verge of getting its hands on the coronavirus vaccine. This comes after the latest announcement by Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech indicated that they are now entering into trials of children and teenagers aged between 3 to 17 years.
The biggest challenge in developing a vaccine has always been being able to get a product that works across all age groups. Sinovac indicated that its trials for adults had produced positive results and it was moving to other age groups to ensure the efficacy of the vaccine.
Trials for the coronavirus vaccine
The trials are expected to begin in the northern Chinese province of Hebei, where 557 participants will be given a dosage of the US-listed Sinovac’s CoronaVac coronavirus vaccine or a placebo, in a combined phase 1 and 2.
Around the world, the race to develop the first coronavirus vaccine is heating up, with more than 160 vaccines being developed. The research has had mixed results, from minor side effects to major side effects that have led to some vaccine being discontinued.
AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, for instance, has been discontinued after trial results showed that it was having adverse effects on people’s health. The vaccine had become the front runner and many anticipated that the company would be the first to produce a working vaccine.
However, for the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine, the company seems to have got it right the first time, with the Chinese government approving the usage of the vaccine in the country. The trials have also included at least tens of thousands of Chinese citizens.
This has led many countries to keep a close eye on the Chinese vaccine development team, in the hope that they will be able to purchase it.
The discovery of a coronavirus vaccine will go a long way in ensuring things return to normal. Coronavirus has already killed over 930,000 people globally and still counting.
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