Ministry: Five Chinese COVID-19 vaccines in clinical trials
Pub Date:20-11-19 08:37 Source:China Daily
Five Chinese COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase III clinical
trials in foreign countries including the United Arab Emirates, Brazil,
Pakistan and Peru, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on
Wednesday.
In addition, a number of vaccines are moving forward with Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, Zhao said at a news conference.
He said Chinese research institutes and their personnel have made
arduous efforts to promote vaccine research in strict accordance with
scientific rules and regulations. Zhao said the Chinese government and
the nation's enterprises have been actively participating in
international cooperation on vaccines through bilateral and multilateral
channels.
China joined COVAX, an international initiative aimed at ensuring
equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, last month. The country
has repeatedly stated that once it succeeds in developing and deploying a
safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, it will be made a global public
good.
China expects COVAX to include locally made Chinese vaccines on the
purchase list once it succeeds in vaccine research and development, and
it will contribute to enhancing vaccine accessibility and affordability
in developing countries, he said.
According to a recent report in the medical journal The Lancet,
Sinovac Biotech's experimental COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac triggered a
quick immune response during its mid-stage trials.
The report has fully demonstrated that Chinese vaccines are safe and effective, Zhao said.
Also on Wednesday, Zhao rebutted the claim that China's
anti-coronavirus controls have disrupted imports of beef, poultry and
fish, saying the moves are "reasonable and justifiable" and are intended
to protect public health.
The US Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday that China's most
recent COVID-19 restrictions on imported food products are not based on
science and threaten to disrupt trade, Reuters reported.
Coronavirus has been found on frozen meat and on packaging, and has
resulted in temporary suspensions being imposed on a number of
suppliers.
"The relevant measures China took are necessary in following the
spirit of putting people's lives first and protecting people's health,"
Zhao said.
The US accusations are groundless and unreasonable, he said, adding
that China will adjust relevant measures in a timely manner according to
the development of the pandemic situation and its pandemic prevention
and control requirements.