" COVID -19 Vaccine Trial Subjects Must Fully Understand Test Specifications "

KUCHING :

The Sarawak Health Department will hold discussions with those selected to undergo clinical trials for the COVID - 19 vaccine from China before any consent is obtained.

State Health Department director Dr Chin Zin Hing said those selected would be asked to go to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).

" After the clinical study specifications have been explained and the individuals have given their consent to participate, only then will they be officially included in the clinical trial list.

" SGH is one of the nine (9) research centres under the supervision of the Health Ministry (MOH) which has been selected to conduct this international clinical trial," he said in a statement on Thursday (January 07, 2021).

It was reported that the Sarawak Health Department was looking for 400 volunteers in the state to conduct a clinical trial for a COVID -19 vaccine developed by the Institute of Medical Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (IMBCAMS) in China.

Dr Chins said Clinical Trials are essential for the development of new medical treatments, including the COVID -19 vaccine.

" Malaysia is one of the countries selected by IMBCAMS to cooperate in the field of medical science during this pandemic and this clinical trial involves 3,000 subjects, " he said.

In this clinical trial, 50 % of the subjects will have the opportunity to be vaccinated while another 50 % are likely to be injected with a placebo.

" The study protocol has been approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), MOH and will be conducted to world-class standards, " he added.

@ Jackie San