Dhaka: Bangladesh’s state medical research agency has approved a third-phase trial of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine has been developed by China’s ‘Sinovac Biotech Ltd’. It should be stated here that COVID-19 infections are on the rise in Bangladesh.
‘Sinovac’ has been looking for volunteers outside China as the number of coronavirus cases there has dwindled. This information was given Monday, by a member of Bangladesh’s national technical advisory committee to tackle COVID-19. The trial, to be conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), could begin next month.
“We have given ethical permission for the trial after reviewing the research protocol. So trials will begin soon,” said Mahmood Uz Jahan, director of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC). The trial will involve 4,200 volunteers. Half of them will get vaccinated,” he added.
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The trial would be conducted in seven hospitals specialising in treating novel coronavirus infections here. A Sinovac representative said that verbal confirmation of the trial has been given by Bangladesh. “We are now waiting for official approval from Bangladesh,” he informed.
A senior Bangladesh health ministry official, who declined to be identified, said there should not be any objection from the government. This is because Bangladesh would ‘get priority’ if they can successfully develop the vaccine.
Bangladesh had 204,525 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Sunday, with 2,618 deaths.
‘Sinovac’ had earlier said this month that it was starting Phase III trials of its potential coronavirus vaccine in Brazil. The Phase III trials will involve human beings.