AstraZeneca is resuming clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, following confirmation that is safe to do so. The trials were paused when one of the participants developed an “unexplained illness.” The pause is over, but the concerns that…
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India syringe maker boosts production to meet virus vaccine demand
India’s biggest syringe manufacturer is ramping up production to churn out a billion units, anticipating a surge in demand as the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine heats up. While the focus on tackling the pandemic has mostly been…
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Second Russian coronavirus vaccine candidate finishes Phase II human trials: report
President Trump hints at coronavirus vaccine by October CDC tells states to prepare by November; Fox News medical correspondent Dr. Marc Siegel weighs in. Researchers in Russia finished Tuesday the early-stage human trials of a second COVID-19 vaccine candidate, according to a report….
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Minimal SARS-CoV-2 diversity suggests a global vaccine is feasible
Genetic analysis of sequences from more than 27,000 individuals infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 reveals that the virus has mutated minimally since December 2019, suggesting one vaccine would be sufficient to combat global infections. The study was conducted…
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Explaining vaccine clinical trial phases
Clinical trials are conducted in phases, each with slightly different objectives and increasing numbers of volunteers. This is primarily to ensure subject safety but also to make sure the process is as cost-effective as possible. The data from each phase…
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Chief of U.S. vaccine initiative says October timeline ‘extremely unlikely, but not impossible’
The chief adviser for the White House vaccine program said Thursday it was “extremely unlikely, but not impossible” that a vaccine could be available by the end of October. Speaking with National Public Radio, Dr. Moncef Slaoui said that the…
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The FDA may approve a COVID-19 vaccine before trials are complete. Here’s what you need to know
With six million active cases and more than 180,000 deaths arising from COVID-19, as well as historic 32.9 percent economic contraction (via NPR), it’s no wonder that the government is scanning the horizon for signs of relief. But what is…
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Q&A: Firms must share information for massive, rapid vaccine production, says law professor
As the world rushes to identify safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics to counter the COVID-19 epidemic, attention is turning to the next step: manufacturing these products at enormous scale. University of Michigan law professor Nicholson Price says companies should…
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Russia’s coronavirus vaccine hasn’t been fully tested, and approving it now risks side effects and false protection
On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin announced Russia was the first country to register a vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute in Moscow, it’s been registered with the Russian Health Ministry…
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Indonesia starts human trials of China-made virus vaccine
Indonesia on Tuesday launched human trials of a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine with some 1,600 volunteers slated to take part in the six-month study. The vaccine candidate, produced by Sinovac Biotech, is among just a few in the world to enter…
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