China’s first coronavirus vaccine approved for clinical trials
Posted on March. 19. 2020
By Jackie Salo
nypost.com
China has greenlit the start of clinical trials on a coronavirus vaccine — developed by researchers led by a biowarfare expert from ground zero of the pandemic.
The National Medical Products Administration on Tuesday approved the tests for the country’s first COVID-19 vaccine, which was created by the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Wuhan.
“We are a community of shared future for mankind, and vaccine is one of the most powerful scientific and technological weapons to end the novel coronavirus epidemic,” said Chen Wei, a top military biowarfare expert leading the team.
Since arriving on Jan. 26 in Wuhan, the researchers have been racing to find a vaccine to protect people from the potentially deadly virus.
Chen said she and her team have already prepared for large-scale production of the vaccine.
“In accordance with international standards and domestic laws and regulations, we have made preliminary preparations for its safety, effectiveness, controllable quality and mass production,” Chen said.
The virus has spread worldwide to more than 200,000 people, causing more than 8,000 deaths, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.