South Korea’s International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Seoul National University Hospital will soon be administering the country’s first-ever clinical trials for the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The two entities have partnered with pharmaceutical company Inovio to test the vaccine currently known as INO-4800 in its first and second phases.
“South Korea is one of the first countries in the world set to test a COVID-19 vaccine (after the United States, China, United Kingdom and Germany). The trials are a crucial step in the development of an urgently needed vaccine,” said IVI Director-General Dr. Jerome Kim during a signing ceremony held June 4 at the Seoul National University Hospital, as per The Korea Herald.
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During the first phase, 40 healthy adults whose ages range from 19-50 will be administered with the vaccine. The second phase will see 120 people aged 19-64 to determine the vaccine’s viability, immunogenicity, and overall tolerability of South Korea’s residents to the vaccine.
SNU Hospital frontliner and clinical trial lead Dr. Oh Myoung-don stated that this marks a significant milestone for the country towards achieveing its post-COVID-19 normalcy.
“Prolonging physical distancing cannot be sustainable. Hopes of a vaccine allow us to envision a return to normal life,” said Dr. Oh Myoung-don as per The Korea Herald.
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