US university praises results of China’s new Covid-19 vaccine trial

187
US university praises results of China's new Covid-19 vaccine trial
CUTTING EDGE: American scientists at California University have hailed the Chinese vaccine for the Corona Virus as 'potent'. PICTURE BY WEF

Western experts describe the results of the Eastern bloc country as “very impressive,” China’s state-run media Xinhua has reported.


American scientists this week praised a new vaccine trial being conducted by China as the battle against the Covid-19 disease surges on, with leading experts at the US’s California University saying the vaccine is well-tolerated by the body and ignites an immune response.

Chinese scientists expect the trial will linger on for the next 6 months to reach to the final stage of results in treating the SARS-COV2 disease.

California leading epidemiologist Professor Robert Schooley said the three doses tested were found to be safe, well-tolerated by the body and generated “potent immune responses” against the virus.

He said the doses neutralised antibodies and T-cells from candidates who are currently under clinical trial.

The Chinese research team conducted the first phase trial of the Covid-19 vaccine in the city of Wuhan, where the global outbreak started November 2019, and a total of 108 healthy adults aged between 18 and 60 were recruited and allocated to three different dose groups to receive the vaccine.

It is still a month since the trial started and final results will be examined 6 months later.

Schooley said recruited candidates had their T-cells responded “and most had an over 4 fold increase in neutralising antibodies by day 28”.

The research is also looking at the differences in the response strength of older volunteers, said Schooley.

A statement published on Lancet said that phase 2 trial of the vaccine has been initiated in Wuhan will determine whether the results can be replicated, and if there are any adverse events up to six months after vaccination. The trial will be conducted in 500 healthy adults of which 250 of them will be given a middle dose while 125 are given a low dose and the other 125 given a dummy vaccine that has no active ingredients in it to compare the entire results after six months.

“Next steps here will be to see whether there are differences in immunogenicity in older people and how long the immunity persists,” he said.

(edited by MLM)

Send tip-offs to editor@013.co.za