Chidi Samuel| Nigeria on Tuesday confirmed 578 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s burden to 37,801, this is even as a Chinese-made vaccine entered the final stage of testing in Brazil.
The news of Nigeria’s new infections were contained in a tweet by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, via its verified handle.
According to the NCDC, the country’s total virus burden stands at 37,801 with 15,677 discharges and 805 deaths.
The data from the health agency reveals that Lagos, the country’s virus epicentre, reported the highest number of new cases with 88, Kwara with 87, and the FCT third with 82.
Other states with new cases include, Plateau 62, Ondo 39, Enugu 28, Oyo 26, Taraba 24, Kaduna 20, Ebonyi 20, Edo 17, Cross River 16, Kano 14, Rivers (11), Ogun 10, Delta 9, Nasarawa 8, Osun 8, Katsina 3, Imo 2, Kebbi and Borno recorded 1 case each.
-Final testing begins for Chinese COVID-19 vaccine
Meanwhile, a Chinese-made vaccine against the new coronavirus entered the final stage of testing on Tuesday in Brazil, where volunteers received the first doses of what officials hope will be a game-changer in the pandemic.
The vaccine, developed by private Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, became the third in the world to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans — the last step before regulatory approval.
“We’re living in unique and historic times, and that’s why I wanted to be part of this trial,” said the 27-year-old doctor who received the first dose at the Clinical Hospital of Sao Paulo.
Her name was withheld for confidentiality.
Around 9,000 health workers across six Brazilian states will receive the vaccine, known as CoronaVac, in two doses over the next three months under the study.
Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said on Monday that initial results were expected within 90 days.
Sinovac is partnering with a Brazilian public health research center, the Butantan Institute, on the trials.
If the vaccine proves safe and effective, the institute will have the right to produce 120 million doses under the deal, according to officials.
Brazil is the second-hardest-hit country in the coronavirus pandemic, after the United States.
Its death toll surpassed 80,000 Monday, and it has registered 2.1 million infections.
Because the virus is still spreading quickly in the South American country, it is seen as an ideal testing ground for vaccine candidates.
Brazil is also helping carry out Phase 3 testing of another experimental vaccine, developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.
It has a similar deal to produce that vaccine domestically if it is successful in tests, which are also being carried out in Britain and South Africa.
Another vaccine, developed by state-owned Chinese company Sinopharm, also entered Phase 3 trials this month in the United Arab Emirates.
Studies published Monday in British medical journal The Lancet found two vaccine candidates were safe and produced an immune response in Phase 2 trials: the Oxford vaccine and another Chinese-made vaccine, developed by pharmaceutical firm CanSino Biologics together with the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology.
Cover Pix: A volunteer receives the COVID-19 vaccine during the trial stage of the vaccine produced by the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech at the Hospital das Clinicas (HC) in Sao Paulo state, Brazil, on July 21, 2020. Handout / Sao Paulo State Government / AFP
With AFP report
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