A Chinese pharmaceutical company has invited the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, to collaborate in conducting clinical trials of its recently developed inactivated vaccine for COVID-19 in Pakistan.
However, as soon as the news broke, many people weren’t too happy with the news. Especially, our neighbors. Many Indians took to Twitter and criticized the decision. They feel the Chinese are treating Pakistanis as their ‘lab rats’. Well, we agree to disagree with their opinion since who knows if their experiment gets successful? And, in that case, Pakistan will be the first country across the globe to get coronavirus vaccine.
NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Dr. Aamer Ikram said the benefit from the clinical trials in Pakistan would be that if the vaccine proves to be successful, the country would be able to procure it on a high-priority basis.
A Pakistani journalist and TV Anchor Saadia Afzaal broke the news last night which created chaos on social media. However, the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine will not only be provided to Pakistan but Pakistan will be among the first few countries to receive it.
But, it will all start after the clearance of several laws. It has to be approved by the ethics committee and others.
Twitterati shows resistance over China’s coronavirus vaccine
Scientists across the globe are working overtime to find a cure and vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic. Any vaccine for the same looks unlikely before the end of this year. But, there’s always hope and of course, someone has to take the risk to save millions of lives across the globe.
But, there are always a few people who try to spread negativity in everything. Indians are always one of them.
So basically Pakistanis will be their lab rats.
Pak – China Friendship ? #vaccine #Covid_19 https://t.co/vfRAni7gxf— istereotypical (@istereotypical) April 23, 2020
Among all other countries in the world, why #China has chosen #Pakistan for conducting trials of #Covid19 #vaccine? The reason is that #Pakistan is already in a vulnerable state & #China doesn't mind exploiting its brotherly nation. Why not try on its own people?@SecKermani https://t.co/K6VYOk8ZYi
— Vishal Sehgal (@VishalSehgal4U) April 23, 2020
More like the Chinese needing some guinea pigs for live testing of their #COVIDー19 #Vaccine
China develops Covid-19 vaccine, Pakistan to be 1st recipient, claims Pak journalist https://t.co/HgvT1mzStY
— sandip sabharwal (@sandipsabharwal) April 22, 2020
????.
The vaccine needs to be tested on animals first, that's what China is doing
??#coronavirus #COVID19 #vaccinehttps://t.co/rjUNNUTQGF— सचिन (@SachinLkg) April 23, 2020
Moreover, a few Pakistanis also feel the testing on Pakistanis will have a long term negative effect on us.
All those who are excited about china testing vaccine here in Pakistan kindly get your facts right.
In this development of vaccine Pakistan did nothing so there is nothing to be proud about.
They are testing it on our people meaning they are using us as lab rats.#vaccine— Raza Ali Shah (@RazaAlle) April 23, 2020
It's just something to think about. China tortures Muslims in China but giving the first trial of vaccines to Pak?? Maybe they're tryna kill ALL the Muslims. ? #vaccine
— Farah (@farahm786) April 23, 2020
We are being used by China as clinical lab rats and Idk why we are so happy about the vaccine. Lol #vaccine
— Usama Mughal (@UsamaMughal59) April 23, 2020
Yes, it’s not just #China, any country who wants to have a trial will chose #Pakistan after all there are so many worthless & poor lives in the country n no it’s not about friendship! Plz try in on ur on people 1st n if it’s successful then send it to Pakistan!#vaccine #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/DBRepHTfZP
— Engr. Mian Usama Jabbar (@EngrUsama11) April 23, 2020
Coronavirus vaccine impossible before 2021
There have been reports that China will deliver the coronavirus vaccine in the next three months, but it is nearly impossible for a vaccine to be ready before the end of 2021. Severin Schwan, Head of the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical company Roche said, “According to the most likely scenario, we will not have a vaccination before the end of next year”.
He said antibody tests, rather than a vaccine, would be key to allowing people to return to normal life before 2021.
Not only China, but many countries including the US, Israel, Germany among others are also working on coronavirus vaccines. Some time back, Israeli scientists also claimed to have developed a vaccine for a deadly virus.
Some researchers are more optimistic about a vaccine being produced this year. But, after all the clinical trials and legal clearances, it won’t be available before the year 2021.
Let’s see if the Chinese can come up with a game-changer and Pakistan can play an important part in it. Like everyone knows that China is among the top few countries in inventions. However, this time they need to be very careful about the after-effect of their experiments. You know what we mean.
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