<p>A Chinese-made vaccine against the new coronavirus entered the final stage of testing Tuesday in Brazil, where volunteers received the first doses of what officials hope will be a game-changer in the pandemic.</p>.<p>The vaccine, developed by private Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, became the third in the world to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans -- the last step before regulatory approval.</p>.<p>"We're living in unique and historic times, and that's why I wanted to be part of this trial," said the 27-year-old doctor who received the first dose at the Clinical Hospital of Sao Paulo.</p>.<p>Her name was withheld for confidentiality.</p>.<p>Around 9,000 health workers across six Brazilian states will receive the vaccine, known as CoronaVac, in two doses over the next three months under the study.</p>.<p>Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said Monday initial results were expected within 90 days.</p>.<p>Sinovac is partnering with a Brazilian public health research center, the Butantan Institute, on the trials.</p>.<p>If the vaccine proves safe and effective, the institute will have the right to produce 120 million doses under the deal, according to officials.</p>.<p>Brazil is the second-hardest-hit country in the coronavirus pandemic, after the United States.</p>.<p>Its death toll surpassed 80,000 Monday, and it has registered 2.1 million infections.</p>.<p>Because the virus is still spreading quickly in the South American country, it is seen as an ideal testing ground for vaccine candidates.</p>.<p>Brazil is also helping carry out Phase 3 testing of another experimental vaccine, developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.</p>.<p>It has a similar deal to produce that vaccine domestically if it is successful in tests, which are also being carried out in Britain and South Africa.</p>.<p>Another vaccine, developed by state-owned Chinese company Sinopharm, also entered Phase 3 trials this month in the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>Studies published Monday in British medical journal The Lancet found two vaccine candidates were safe and produced an immune response in Phase 2 trials: the Oxford vaccine and another Chinese-made vaccine, developed by pharmaceutical firm CanSino Biologics together with the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology.</p>
<p>A Chinese-made vaccine against the new coronavirus entered the final stage of testing Tuesday in Brazil, where volunteers received the first doses of what officials hope will be a game-changer in the pandemic.</p>.<p>The vaccine, developed by private Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, became the third in the world to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing on humans -- the last step before regulatory approval.</p>.<p>"We're living in unique and historic times, and that's why I wanted to be part of this trial," said the 27-year-old doctor who received the first dose at the Clinical Hospital of Sao Paulo.</p>.<p>Her name was withheld for confidentiality.</p>.<p>Around 9,000 health workers across six Brazilian states will receive the vaccine, known as CoronaVac, in two doses over the next three months under the study.</p>.<p>Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said Monday initial results were expected within 90 days.</p>.<p>Sinovac is partnering with a Brazilian public health research center, the Butantan Institute, on the trials.</p>.<p>If the vaccine proves safe and effective, the institute will have the right to produce 120 million doses under the deal, according to officials.</p>.<p>Brazil is the second-hardest-hit country in the coronavirus pandemic, after the United States.</p>.<p>Its death toll surpassed 80,000 Monday, and it has registered 2.1 million infections.</p>.<p>Because the virus is still spreading quickly in the South American country, it is seen as an ideal testing ground for vaccine candidates.</p>.<p>Brazil is also helping carry out Phase 3 testing of another experimental vaccine, developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.</p>.<p>It has a similar deal to produce that vaccine domestically if it is successful in tests, which are also being carried out in Britain and South Africa.</p>.<p>Another vaccine, developed by state-owned Chinese company Sinopharm, also entered Phase 3 trials this month in the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>Studies published Monday in British medical journal The Lancet found two vaccine candidates were safe and produced an immune response in Phase 2 trials: the Oxford vaccine and another Chinese-made vaccine, developed by pharmaceutical firm CanSino Biologics together with the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology.</p>