Around 172 countries want to take part in the Covax global coronavirus vaccine initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO). As long as there is only a limited supply, it is first important to provide those who are at the highest risk worldwide with a vaccine, said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a press conference today.
The initiative is intended to guarantee fair access to possible CoV vaccines. However, more funds are urgently needed and countries should make binding commitments now, Ghebreyesus said.
Hospital in Rome started vaccine testing on humans
The Roman hospital Lazzaro Spallanzani, which specializes in infectious diseases, has meanwhile started testing a vaccine against the coronavirus on humans. The hospital management reported that the first volunteer had already received the first dose of vaccine.
3,000 people registered as volunteers for the test, 90 were selected by the doctors. You will receive 700 euros for your participation. The vaccine was developed in Italy and was created thanks to an agreement that the government signed with the Spallanzani Institute.
Production only after tests
The vaccine was developed and patented by the biotechnology company ReiThera, based in Castelromano near Rome, together with the Munich company Leukocare and Univercells (Brussels). Production will only start after the tests.
The preventive vaccine is said to boost the production of antibodies and the activity of immune cells. The three pharmaceutical companies decided to join forces to accelerate the development of a vaccine. The challenge is to produce millions of cans in a rush.
