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)
