Volunteers receiving severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
vaccine in a clinical test show no obvious signs of side effects so
far, said Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of
Engineering, at an international seminar held in Shanghai
Saturday.
Zhong said that the results of the research will be released in
January 2005 after researches determine the effectiveness of the
vaccine.
From May to August this year, 36 volunteers received China's
first SARS vaccine at another clinical test. Eighteen of them
received an injection of low-dosage SARS inactivated vaccine while
the other 18 received a high dosage. Except for symptoms of side
effects of the drug such as fever and discomfort, volunteers showed
no other adverse reactions and their health was in good
condition.
The antibody in volunteers' blood serum has increased by various
levels, but the effectiveness of the vaccine is yet to be verified,
said Zhong.
Zhong said there is little chance of another serious SARS
outbreak in China as long as labs and wild animals are managed
correctly and the four "early" measures are enforced. The measures
are: early detection, early report, early isolation and early
treatment.
Beginning this year, the country has improved its management of
labs doing SARS research, and banned the sales and consumption of
civet cats, said Zhong.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2004)