The World Health Organization has approved China's plan for clinical tests of its newly developed SARS vaccine.

Thirty volunteers will be selected for the clinical tests. WHO experts say the volunteers will be vaccinated only after signing a consent form. Tests on the thirty participants, with ages ranging from 18 to 40, is the first phase of clinical trials. The second phase will have more participants from a wider age bracket. The final phase will only be carried out if there is a new outbreak of SARS.

WHO experts have expressed confidence in Chinese research in the field of SARS prevention, and say they look forward to further cooperation in the vaccine trials.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2004)