Coronavirus vaccine trials to begin in Peru

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra on Thursday anunced clinical trials for a possible COVID-19 vaccine would be held with 6,000 volunteers in country.

Vizcarra said China's Sipharm Laboratory will conduct clinical trials in South American country on August 24.

He also expects clinical trials by firm AstraZeneca, associated with Oxford University, by end of August.

Vizcarra said that country will be part of World Health Organization global initiative to vaccinate at least 20% of global population, which means around 6.6 million Peruvians.

According to president, Peru is in talks with representatives of five laboratories from different parts of world to make possible acquisition of 30 million doses of vaccines against coronavirus.

Peru has reported 558,000 coronavirus cases and 26,834 deaths so far, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.