Successfully tested the Covid-19 vaccine in humans

Eight healthy volunteers were vaccinated to produce specific antibodies against nCoV.

The result was announced by Biotechnology firm Moderna on May 18.  The first human-immunized Vaccine Covid-19 vaccine appears to be safe and able to stimulate an immune response. 

Eight volunteers were given two doses of vaccine, starting in March this year. Results showed that antibody levels produced equal to those of people who had recovered from Covid-19, were sufficient to prevent the virus from multiplying. 

Company representatives said they are speeding up the research. The second phase, with the participation of 600 people, will start soon. The third phase is expected to take place in July, on thousands of healthy volunteers. 

Pharmacists at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute gave a vaccine to volunteers in March. (Image: AP)

Earlier, on May 7, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Moderna to conduct a second phase test. 

According to Dr. Tal Zaks, the company's medical director, if the results are positive, the Covid-19 vaccine is expected to be available later this year or early 2021. 

"We will try our best to produce as many (doses of vaccine) as possible," Dr. Zaks said.

There is currently no official method to prevent and treat Covid-19. Dozens of pharmaceutical companies in the US, Europe and China are rushing to produce vaccines in different forms. Similar to Moderna, some units use information-based RNA technology (genetic material). 

Earlier, the company said the infected mice tested gave off antibodies, able to prevent the virus from multiplying.

The three injected doses were low, medium and high. Moderna's preliminary results are based on low and moderate doses in humans. 

The only side effect of the vaccine is redness and soreness at the vaccination site. When taking the highest dose, three patients had fever, muscle tension and headache. Symptoms disappear after a day. However, the high dose test was removed in subsequent studies, because the low dose vaccine was sufficient to protect the body from virus invasion. 

"The lower the dose, the more vaccines we can produce , " Dr. Zaks said.