(CNN Español) –– Between 5,000 and 8,000 volunteers in Ecuador would take part in a clinical trial for phase 3 of a coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Anhui Zhifei Longcom in conjunction with the Institute of Microbiology of China, Health Minister Juan reported Monday Carlos Zevallos.
The Chinese pharmaceutical company is carrying out a clinical research project for a “new recombinant vaccine for the prevention of covid-19,” Zevallos said at a press conference. And he added that the company began the search for volunteers in Ecuador, through a private provider of medical services.
“This is a very well organized clinical trial from a scientific point of view,” said the minister. He also reported that this experimental phase will allow to analyze if the vaccine developed by Anhui Zhifei Longcom is effective against the 25 variants of covid-19 that, according to Zevallos, circulate in Ecuador.
The official added that the vaccine “successfully completed phase 2.” And he anticipated that the Ministry of Health will release more details about the opening of this trial. This when they finish coordinating all the details with the company.
The biopharmaceutical Anhui Zhifei Longcom, according to the official website of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, began its phase 3 trials in the Asian country in November. Additionally, he highlighted that Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Ecuador will join this experimentation phase.
The page added that this is the fifth vaccine developed in China to enter the full-scale testing phase with volunteers.
The vaccine distribution process in Ecuador
The World Health Organization, on its website on the advancement of pharmaceutical companies and research centers for the vaccine against covid-19, includes Anhui Zhifei Longcom as one of the candidates who have developed phases 1 and 2 of the essays.
Meanwhile, Ecuador will begin the vaccination process in January with the zero or pilot phase. This includes 50,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for front-line personnel in the fight against the virus. In addition to hospitals with greater care for patients with covid-19. Also in residences or shelters for the elderly.
At the end of March and beginning of April, phase 1 of vaccination would begin. This will be extended as the shipments of vaccines from different pharmaceutical companies continue to arrive, according to the Ministry of Health.
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