"It's time we stepped up and fight the virus"
——China's first volunteers have been vaccinated against new crown pneumonia
Our reporter Zhang Galen
Recently, the Phase I clinical trial of recombinant new coronavirus (2019-COV) vaccine (adenovirus vector) was officially launched. The first volunteers have been vaccinated and are now through their 14-day quarantine observation period.
The Phase I clinical trial required volunteers to be resident residents of the Wuhan area, recruiting a total of 108 people. University teachers Dabai (pseudonym) is one of them. "We are all in one mind and want Wuhan to get better soon." On the evening of March 21, he told the Science Daily reporter on the phone that the idea of volunteers is very simple, that is, to contribute to vaccine research and development.
Academician Chen Wei pays tribute to volunteers
According to the public information on the website of the China Clinical Trial Registration Center, the sponsors of the clinical trial are the Institute of Bioengineering of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the Academy of Military Sciences and Kangsino Biological Corporation. The purpose of the test is to test and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the new recombinant coronavirus vaccine (adenovirus vector).
This vaccine was constructed using genetic engineering methods, using replication-defective human type 5 adenovirus as a vector, and expressing the new coronavirus S antigen.
Chen Wei, the person in charge of the vaccine project, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher at the Military Medical Research Institute, explained its principle like this: on the premise of "learning" the virus, "surgery" the virus, and using flowers and trees to transform a carrier we need The virus is injected into the body to produce immunity.
Volunteers were divided into three groups of low-dose group, medium-dose group and high-dose group, with 36 people in each group. Within six months after the vaccination, the medical team will periodically follow up with the volunteers several times to see if they have any adverse reactions and whether anti-S protein-specific antibodies are produced in the body.
In the early morning of March 17, Dabai, who has been watching the progress of vaccine development, searched the registration channel and submitted his personal information. On the afternoon of the 18th, he received a medical examination notice. In the evening of the day, Dabai rushed to the medical examination place. There were also five or six volunteers who underwent a physical examination with him.
It was there that Dabai met Academician Chen Wei. Chen Wei also wore a mask, and the volunteers recognized her. "We all paid special attention to vaccine-related news, and recognized her face on TV!" Chen Wei took the initiative to greet the volunteers, saying they had worked hard and paid tribute to them.
Sincerely want to do something for the epidemic
On March 20, Dabai was officially vaccinated. He remembered the time well, it was 12:39 noon that day. "I feel proud and glorious," he said.
Dabai has fully understood the possible risks. He lamented that in his youth, fearlessness was due to ignorance. As he got older, he admired more those who were "knowledgeable" but still fearless. "Medical staff in Hubei and Wuhan during this time, they know the risks of the virus the most, but they have come without hesitation." Dabai said, "Now that their task is completed, it is time for us to stand up and fight the virus."
Volunteers, in their own way, and scientific researchers entered the battlefield against the new crown virus. They all consider themselves ordinary people and don't seem to be worth the news. The girl Xiaomi (pseudonym) previously posted a Weibo, revealing her identity as a volunteer for the new crown pneumonia vaccine test. For a time, tribute and blessing crowded her comment area.
"I just feel that I just meet the conditions, don't have too much burden, can bear the results, and occasionally want to get rid of the low-level taste. I really should thank all those who stand in front of ordinary people." Faced with so much attention, Xiaomi suddenly didn't know how to reply.
Dabai said that everyone wanted to do something to fight the epidemic. Many people have volunteered in other places in Wuhan before. Before he entered the vaccine test, Dabai was a community volunteer who ran errands for his neighbors and delivered and distributed supplies.
Before setting off, Dabai tried to explain to his son what he was going to do in a way that his son could understand. The first-grade child has always loved aerospace, and he concluded: Dad is like a moon landing. A small step for dad is a big step for human beings.