Major good news hits on COVID-19 as medics test 1st vaccine on 45 patients

- The vaccine was developed by the US National Institutes of Health alongside other partners

- The test was conducted on Monday, March 16, on 45 males and non-pregnant females between the ages of 18 and 55.

- The patients will receive another vaccination after 28 days

- Experts, however, said the treatment may not be readily available even after the test noting the vaccination might take longer before being availed for mass usage

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Scientists and medics who have been burning the midnight oil studying and researching on coronavirus have now come up with a vaccine that has been put on trial.

The US National Institutes of Health, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, conducted the first vaccine on 45 patients to establish whether or not it would be effective in countering the disease that has been declared a global pandemic.

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According to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the test was an important milestone in the quest to combat the spread of the virus which has grounded normal operations in many countries across the world.

The test was conducted on Monday, March 17, on 45 males and non-pregnant females between the ages of 18 and 55.

The patients will be subjected to the same vaccine after 28 days to access their response and performance of the vaccination.

The medics, however, said the treatment may not be readily available even after the test noting the vaccination would not be fit for mass use for another 12 to 18 months.

"It's been made to a very high standard, using things that we know are safe to use in people and those taking part in the trial will be very closely monitored.

This is very fast but it is a race against the virus, not against each other as scientists, and it's being done for the benefit of humanity," Infectious disease expert John Tregoning told BBC.

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As it stands, there are 182, 815 cases of coronavirus and a total of 7, 174 deaths globally.

China is the worst-hit followed by Italy and Iran.

So far, at least 79, 000 people who contracted the virus have recovered and discharged from hospitals.

In other news, an unidentified market woman has been captured in a viral photo protecting herself with black polythene to prevent COVID-19

Although the location of the woman is also unknown, she is fast becoming popular for her hilarious innovation

It appears that the recent announcement that 6 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ghana has spread fear and panic among the populace

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Source: YEN.com.gh