Peru's president visits COVID-19 vaccine lab

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra visited the Research Centre of the Cayetano Heredia University on Friday to see the work carried out by Peruvian and Chinese scientists in advanced clinical trials of a potential vaccine against COVID- 19.

President Vizcarra praised the joint work of the scientists sent by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm and the staff of the Cayetano Heredia University.

The current trials, phase 3 of vaccine testing, involves the vaccination of volunteers who will then be studied to see if the inoculation  works and what side effects it may cause.

The trial that started earlier this week in Peru will include a total of 6,000 people between the ages of 18 and 75.

About 2,000 will receive a Wuhan strain, 2,000 a Beijing strain, and the remainder a saline water placebo.

Last Wednesday, 20 volunteers were vaccinated, including doctors, veterinarians, lawyers, risk managers from local banks, psychologists and diplomats.

Vizcarra described the clinical trials in Peru as important and one that would be closely monitored.

"With the result of this last phase 3 we can begin with the next (phase), which is delivering the vaccine to all the population," Vizcarra said.

Worldwide, Sinopharm has already applied 30,000 doses to volunteers and another 10,000 participants have received double doses.

The Peruvian government is in talks with six laboratories while deciding its strategy to purchase vaccines for its population of 32 million.

Peru is one of the hardest-hit countries by the virus since its appearance in March, reporting Friday 710,067 COVID-19 cases and 30,344 deaths.

(Representative Image)