A Covid-19 vaccine trial on children has gotten underway in South Africa.

The Sinovac vaccine is being administered to those aged between six months and 17-years-old. The two-dose vaccine or a placebo will be given to the trial participants 28 days apart.

About 2000 South African children are part of the five-nation trial which has a total of 14 000 children enrolled.

Numolux which is approved to distribute Sinovac, is conducting the trial at seven research sites in the country. According to the company it would evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine against confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 cases in children and adolescents. It says the efficacy will be evaluated against hospitalisation and severe Covid-19 cases.

The Health Products Regulator (Sahpra) recently gave Sinovac conditional approval. The conditions included regular safety data updates and that the vaccine is only administered to people aged 18 to 59.

[Picture: Sinovac]