China announced in Beijing on Monday that its bird flu vaccine for human use had proved to be "safe" and "effective" during the second phase of clinical tests.

The vaccine was jointly developed by the Beijing-based vaccine producer Sinovac Biotech, the first in the world to develop the SARS vaccine, and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The program was also under support of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health.

Zhang Jiansan, vice-general manager of the Sinovac Biotech, said that the second phase of clinical tests was carried out from September to November with approval of the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration. A total of 402 people aged from 18 to 60 took the test.

Test results indicated that the major index of the vaccine all reached international standards and performed well in human body. None of the test takers experienced any serious negative reaction, proving that the vaccine was safe.

Zhang said that test takers of different ages were given different dosages of vaccine, and all received positive results. "This means the vaccine could be administered widely when treating flu infected people."

"We were able to control the dosage and immunization procedure during the second phase of clinical tests, which also provided us with effective, scientific methods to combat highly infective influenza," Zhang said.

Observers reported that China has completed its technological preparations to combat influenza with the success of bird flu vaccine for human use research and clinical tests.

"China is also capable of producing a bird flu vaccine for human use in appropriate quantities," Zhang stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2007)