JOHANNESBURG. – The Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech last Friday launched the phase III clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine in a group of children and adolescents between six months and 17 years old in South Africa.
The study, conducted in collaboration with South African company Numolux Group, recruited around 2,000 participants in the country who received two doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine 28 days apart or a placebo.
The evaluation of effectiveness is based on relevant indicators.
Numolux CEO Hilton Klein said there are an estimated 24 million children and adolescents in South Africa and if approved for use at home, the vaccine made by Sinovac will help the country to achieve herd immunity more quickly.
South Africa’s health products regulator approved the CoronaVac vaccine for use in adults in the country in July.
