- There are 176 potential COVID-19 vaccines in the works right now across the world. Of these, 44 are under clinical evaluation,
- Meanwhile, the overall number of global coronavirus cases has increased to 40.7 million.
There are 176 potential COVID-19 vaccines in the works right now across the world. Of these, 44 are under clinical evaluation, according to the World Health Organisation’s vaccine update.
Meanwhile, according to Johns Hopkins University, the global COVID-19 tally has increased to 40.7 million, and the deaths have soared to over 1,123,960.
On October 20, India recorded less than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time since July. With the festive season round the corner, PM Modi has cautioned against complacency and asked people to take precautions, follow social distancing measures.
Here are the updates on COVID-19 vaccines from around the world:
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine volunteer dies in Brazil, human trials will continue
A Brazilian volunteer, who participated in a clinical trial of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s potential COVID-19 vaccine, died, Brazilian health authority Anvisa reported. It also added that the pharma giant will continue the trials. According to a local Brazilian newspaper, O Globo, the volunteer was a 28-year doctor who died because of COVID-19.
According to the Brazilian health authority, the death was reported on October 19 and the International Evaluation and Security Committee monitoring the trials suggested continuing since the volunteer may or may not have received the vaccine shot or a placebo. AstraZeneca would have paused the trials over safety concerns had the volunteer died after receiving its experimental vaccine.
Pfizer and BioNTech begins phase I/II clinical trials of mRNA vaccine in Japan
Pfizer and BioNTech, on October 20, announced that they would be recruiting 160 people between 20 and 85 years of age to conduct a combined clinical trial of mRNA in Japan, reported Reuters. Pfizer is developing its vaccine candidate in partnership with Germany-based BioNTech.
Moderna CEO: COVID-19 vaccine’s interim results are likely to be released in November
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel expects interim results for its COVID-19 vaccine in November, reported Wall Street Journal.
“That first analysis is likely to occur in November, but it’s hard to predict exactly which week because it depends on the cases, the number of people getting sick,” Wall Street Journal reported quoting Bancel.
According to the report, Moderna CEO said that positive interim results in November may prompt the federal government to authorise emergency use of its experimental vaccine.
Chinese drugmaker is setting up vaccine production lines
A state-owned Chinese drugmaker is setting up production lines to supply 1 billion doses of two possible coronavirus vaccines that are being tested on 50,000 people in 10 countries, Liu Jingzhen, SinoPharm Group.
China's fledgling drug industry is part of a global race to produce a vaccine and has four candidates in the final stages of testing.
UK to begin 'human challenge' trials to speed up COVID-19 vaccine hunt
In the push to become the first nation to carry out “human challenge” trials, the UK government would be recruiting 90 volunteers and expose them to small amounts of the novel coronavirus in a controlled setting. If approved by regulators and the ethics committee, the studies would start in January next year, with results expected by May 2021. The UK government has invested £33.6 million towards this project.
Israel to start human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate 'Brilife' by October-end
The human trial of Israel's COVID-19 vaccine candidate 'Brilife' will begin by the end of this month. The prospective vaccine is being developed by the Israel Institute of Biological Research (IIBR) that was established in 1952 as part of the Israel Defence Forces' Science Corps, and later became a civilian organisation.
Israel had claimed in August that it already has the vaccine against the coronavirus "in hand" but it has to go through regulatory processes that would begin with human trials following the autumn holidays.
Indonesia to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to 9.1 million people in the first phase
Indonesia will provide the COVID-19 vaccine to 9.1 million people in the first phase between November and December 2020, the Health Ministry's Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Achmad Yurianto said.
The first phase of vaccination will be carried out on the groups of people with highest risk of COVID-19 infections, namely medical and public service workers, including airport employees, soldiers and police personnel, Xinhua news agency reported [link it] on Monday.
Yurianto said that the vaccine would only be given to people aged between 18 years old and 59 years old because clinical trials of vaccine candidates in the world have yet to target categories outside that age range.
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