China's covid-19 vaccine's trials halted in Brazil after adverse event

The final stage trial of China's most-anticipated vaccine candidate was halted in Brazil after adverse event was reported, a Bloomberg report said.

China's covid-19 vaccine candidate, Coronavac, developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is Asia's first vaccine to receive this kind of setback. As per the Brazil Helath Agency, the trails were resumed following an event occured on Octobeer 29. The agency did not speicfy the event which led to the suspension of trials. However, it mentioned that the study to analyze the vaccine should continue.

Brazilian firm Sao Paulo’s Instituto Butantan has partnered with China's Sinovac to manufacture local vaccine doses. The company in a statement said that it is taken aback by the decision and is currently looking for more details of study.Director Dimas Covas said in a TV interview that one volunteer in the trial has died, however, the death was not linked to vaccine.

It is noteworthy that China has already started vaccinating people after it received emergency use approval.

Last month, China’s science ministry said its companies have vaccinated about 60,000 volunteers in final-stage trials, but no adverse events were reported among any of them.

Serious adverse events while vaccination trials can lead to death, immediate risk of death, long term or serious incapacitation, and hospitalization.

It is not the first time that the covid-19 vaccine trials have been halted. Earlier, AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson had also paused their vaccine trials due to serious adverse events, only to re-start them in a short while after investigation.

Meanwhile, Sinovac’s company representative has not responded to the reports of adverse event yet.

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