First human trial for vaccine against coronavirus begins in the US
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are more than 50 trials for a vaccine on COVID-19.
When she appeared on a Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Fiona Braka, country officer for WHO in Nigeria, said there is also a multi-country trial for a drug for the virus.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December, at least 828,000 persons have so far been infected while more than 40,700 have died.
Most of the 174,000 persons who have recovered from the infection did so as a result of a strong immune system and absence of underlying health conditions.
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Braka said while there is no vaccine for the disease yet, WHO is fast-tracking the process of producing one.
She said: “We currently have over 50 vaccine trials that are in place, trying to work round the clock to fast-track the vaccine development process, and we continue to keep countries informed of that process.
“When it comes to treatment, WHO is leading a multi-country clinical trial. So far, 45 countries have signed up for that.”
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The WHO country director added that what is being adopted is a “solidarity trial” that would “test different drugs in four different arms against the normal standard of care we are currently implementing.”
According to The Guardian, at least four companies have begun testing the efficacy of their vaccines for the COVID-19 in animals, with a trial in humans expected to commence soon.
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