The Chinese army received the green light to use a vaccine against COVID-19 developed by the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology and CanSino Biologics Inc, after clinical trials have shown that it is safe and has shown some effectiveness
Ad5-nCoV is one of eight Chinese vaccine candidates approved for human trials at home and abroad for respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. On May 16, 2020, the vaccine has also been approved for human trials in Canada.
The Chinese Central Military Commission approved on 25 June the use of the vaccine by the military for a period of one year. The drug was developed jointly by CanSino and a research institute of the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS).
The vaccine will only be administered to the military
“Ad5-nCoV is currently limited to testing among the military and its use cannot be extended to a wider audience without the approval of the Logistics Support Department,” said CanSino, referring to the department of the Central Military Commission that has approved the use of the vaccine for military personnel.
The military approval follows China’s decision earlier this month to offer two more potential vaccines to employees of state-owned companies who travel abroad.
Phase one and two clinical studies of the vaccine have shown that CanSino’s product has the potential to prevent diseases caused by the coronavirus, which has killed half a million people worldwide, although its commercial success cannot be guaranteed, according to the company.
At the same time, the Academy of Military Sciences, earlier this month received approval to test a second experimental vaccine for the coronavirus in humans.
No vaccine has yet been approved for commercial use against the disease caused by the new coronavirus, but more than a dozen vaccines from over 100 candidates globally have already been tested in humans.