COVID-19 vaccine: Pakistan approached for possible trials

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Friday confirmed that a Chinese company had contacted Pakistan to conduct tests for the coronavirus vaccine.

Taking to Twitter, Dr Mirza said that Pakistan had asked for more information on the tests, saying that it was too early to say anything. “About vaccine for COVID-19: Pakistan is approached by Chinese company for possible trails. We have asked for more info which we will evaluate through relevant experts from safety, ethics, regulation & feasibility perspectives before deciding. Too early to say anything!” he tweeted.

About vaccine for COVID-19: Pakistan is approached by Chinese company for possible trails. We have asked for more info which we will evaluate through relevant experts from safety, ethics, regulation & feasibility perspectives before deciding. Too early to say anything! <290>

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) April 24, 2020

On Thursday, the Chinese company, Sinopharm, proposed that the clinical trials of its ‘inactive COVID-19 vaccine’ be conducted in Pakistan for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The pharmaceutical company, in its letter to the National Institute of Health, said that “a successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of [the] first few countries for the launch of a COVID-19 vaccine”.