Australia begins to test COVID-19 vaccine

Clinical trials of the SARS-Cov-19 coronavirus vaccine have begun in Canberra, Australia, Report informs, referring to TASS.

According to the Paratus Clinical Research Center, 80 volunteers will receive the drug, developed by the US company Novavax, and the same number of people will take a placebo.

The center said that 1,500 enlistees (750 in each country) would take part in large-scale clinical trials to be held simultaneously in Australia and the United States. The first participants in the test will be university staff and students from Canberra.

So far, 49 volunteers have taken the drug, while others undergo a final medical examination before participating in the experiment. They will be vaccinated again six months after the initial one. Next, the participants will be tested regularly so that doctors can monitor the development of immunity to the COVID-19 and assess its resistance. The interim results of the study are expected to be ready by the end of the year.