Chinese Health Authorities "Omicron Vaccine Clinical Trial Preparation in Final Stage"

'COVID-19 lockdown' imposed in Shenzhen, China
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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Chinese epidemic prevention authorities have announced that preparations for clinical trials of vaccines targeting the Omicron variant are entering the final stages.

At a press conference on the 19th, the National Health Commission of China stated that significant progress has been made in the research and development of vaccines against the Omicron variant virus.

Jing Zhongwei, Director of the Science and Technology Development Center at the National Health Commission, explained, "We are rapidly advancing the development of vaccines specifically for Omicron, prioritizing scientific principles regarding safety and efficacy. Domestic vaccine research teams began their studies as soon as Omicron first appeared."

He continued, "The development of both Omicron-specific vaccines and polyvalent vaccines has progressed considerably, and preclinical studies have been completed relatively quickly. We have submitted the application materials for clinical trials to the national drug regulatory authorities."

Additionally, he added, "Some of the vaccines previously developed are currently collecting data on preventive efficacy against Omicron in Phase 3 clinical trials being conducted overseas."