China okays human trial for virus vaccine as 12 new cases emerge

A medical worker prepares test reagents at a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory at Beijing Puren Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2020. - Xinhua

BEIJING (Xinhua): Chinese authorities have approved a new Covid-19 vaccine candidate for human trials, the Institute of Microbiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a statement.

The recombinant protein vaccine was issued with a clinical research permit from the National Medical Products Administration on June 19, according to the institute, which is the vaccine's main developer.