Photo: courtesy of Sinovac

The world's first phase-III clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines available for children aged as young as 6 months have been launched in South Africa, Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac together and partner South Africa-based Numolux Group announced on Friday.

The phase-III clinical trials aim to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and the efficacy of Sinovac vaccines on COVID-19 infections and severe cases involving underage children between 6 months and 17 years old, according to a statement obtained by the Global Times from Sinovac on Friday. 

The clinical trials will be a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study, the Sinovac said. 

Inactivated vaccines against the coronavirus produced by Sinovac are basically safe and effective when administered to adolescents aged between 3 and 17 years old and China approved the emergency use of such COVID-19 inactivated vaccines in May. 

Global Times